A principal contractor must-
- provide and demonstrate to the client a site specific health and safety plan, based on the client’s documented health and safety specifications, which plan must be applied from the date of commencement of and for the duration of the construction work and which must be reviewed and updated by the principal contractor as work progresses;
- open and keep on site a health and safety file, which must include all documentation required in terms of the Act and these Regulations, which must be made available on request to an inspector, the client, the client’s agent or a contractor; and
- on appointing any other contractor, in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act-
(if) provide contractors who are tendering to perform construction work for the principal contractor, with the relevant sections of the health and safety specifications pertaining to the construction work which has to be performed;
(ii) ensure that potential contractors submitting tenders have made sufficient provision for health and safety measures during the construction process;
(iii) ensure that no contractor is appointed to perform construction work unless the principal contractor is reasonably satisfied that the contractor that he or she intends to appoint, has the necessary competencies and resources to perform the construction work safely;
(iv) ensure prior to work commencing on the site that every contractor is registered and in good standing with the compensation fund or with alicensed compensation insurer;
(v) appoint each contractor in writing for the part of the project on the construction site;
(vi) take reasonable steps to ensure that each contractor’s health and safety plan is implemented and maintained on the construction site;
(vii) ensure that the periodic site audits and document verification are conducted at intervals mutually agreed upon between the principal contractor and any contractor, but at least once every 30 days;
(viii) stop any contractor from executing construction work which is not in accordance with the client’s health and safety specifications and the principal contractor’s health and safety plan for the site or which poses a threat to the health and safety of persons;
(ix) where changes are brought about to the design and construction, make available sufficient health and safety information and appropriate resources to the contractor to execute the work safely; and
(x) discuss and negotiate with the contractor the contents of the health and safety plan and must approve that plan for implementation;
- ensure that a copy of his or her health and safety plan as well as the contractor’s health and safety plan is available on request to an employee, an inspector, a contractor, the client or the client’s agent;
- hand over a consolidated health and safety file to the client upon completion of the construction work and must include a record of all drawings, designs, materials used and other similar information concerning the completed structure;
- make available a comprehensive and updated list of all the contractors on site accountable to the principal contractor, the agreements between the parties and the type of work being done; and
- ensure that all his or her employees have a valid medical certificate of fitness specific to the construction work to be performed and issued by an occupational health practitioner.