Principal Designer

What is a Principal Designer?

A Principal Designer is appointed by the client to take the lead in planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating health and safety during the design and planning stage of a project.

Design decisions taken during this pre-construction phase can have a significant effect on whether a project is delivered in a way that secures health and safety not only during construction, but also throughout its use, maintenance and eventual demolition.

Why appoint Quattro as Principal Designer?

As designers, Quattro are uniquely positioned to carry out the Principal Designer duty and are Safety Schemes in Procurement [SSIP] accredited with both CHAS and SafeContractor.

We plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety matters throughout the pre-construction phase of the project by:

• Assisting the Client in identifying, obtaining and collating the Pre-Construction Information
• Providing Pre-Construction Information to Designers, Principal Contractor and Contractors
• Ensuring that Designers comply with their duties and co-operate with each other
• Liaising with the Principal Contractor for the duration of the appointment
• Preparing the Health and Safety File

Confirming that the Project Team are aware of their duties under CDM2015 and setting the general tone in terms of health and safety to ensure it is embedded in all design decisions and that a collaborative culture is in place.

A full review of the project site is undertaken, and available information gathered on the proposed development, advising the client of any further surveys that need to be instructed to safely progress the project. This information is cascaded to all designers to allow informed decisions to be taken in relation to health and safety in design development.  Ensuring that the Principles of Prevention are applied.

Our focus is that the right people have the right information during the design process and throughout the construction phase.

A CDM Pre-Construction Information document is prepared which highlights the key residual hazards associated with the construction of the project that would not be obvious to a competent Principal Contractor.

Risk registers are reviewed and updated through to practical completion. At this point a Residual Risk Register is finalised to highlight remaining risks that have not been designed out or mitigated and is included within the Health and Safety File which is handed to the client upon completion to inform users and future Contractors.

We see this function as a natural extension of our Designer role and are increasingly appointed as Designer and Principal Designer on projects.