Free CDM construction phase plan template

What is a CDM construction phase plan template?

A CDM construction phase plan is a document required under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) for every construction project in Great Britain. The plan is prepared by the principal contractor before the construction phase begins and sets out the arrangements for managing health and safety during the construction work. It must describe the project, its management structure, the arrangements for controlling significant risks, site rules, welfare facilities, and the means by which the plan will be reviewed and updated as the project progresses. The construction phase plan is the principal contractor primary tool for communicating how the project will be managed safely.

CDM 2015 replaced the earlier CDM 2007 Regulations and introduced a clearer structure of duty holder roles: client, principal designer, principal contractor, designers and contractors. Regulation 12 requires the principal contractor to draw up the construction phase plan before the construction phase begins, or to ensure it is drawn up. The plan must be appropriate to the risks involved in the construction work and must be kept up to date throughout the project. For projects with only one contractor, that contractor takes on the principal contractor duties. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) provides guidance through the CDM 2015 Approved Code of Practice (L153) on what the construction phase plan should contain. Failure to have an adequate construction phase plan is a common enforcement finding and can result in improvement notices, prohibition notices or prosecution.

Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move your plans from paper to MapTrack, you get:

• Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
• Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
• Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
• Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
• Ability to share forms digitally.
• Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
• Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
• Electronic signatures.
• Edit forms later without reprinting.
• Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
• Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
• Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
• Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
• Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a CDM construction phase plan template

This CDM construction phase plan template covers 10 key areas:

• Project description: project name, site address, client name, principal designer, principal contractor, project start and anticipated completion dates, brief description of the construction work.
• Management structure: organisation chart or list showing the duty holders and their roles, including site manager, site supervisor, health and safety adviser, first aiders, fire wardens.
• Arrangements for managing significant risks: how the principal contractor will identify, assess and control significant risks, including reference to risk assessments, method statements and SWMS.
• Specific risk arrangements: documented controls for each significant risk, including working at height, excavations, confined spaces, asbestos, demolition, temporary works, lifting operations, hot works, electrical safety, traffic management and noise.
• Site rules: mandatory PPE, site access and egress, working hours, smoking policy, drug and alcohol policy, housekeeping standards, visitor management, prohibited activities.
• Emergency procedures: fire and evacuation plan, first aid arrangements, emergency contacts, nearest A&E hospital, procedures for reporting accidents and dangerous occurrences under RIDDOR.
• Welfare facilities: description and location of toilets, washing facilities, changing rooms, rest and eating areas, drinking water provision, as required by CDM 2015 Schedule 2.
• Communication and consultation: how health and safety information will be communicated to workers and contractors, including inductions, toolbox talks, site notice boards and consultation arrangements.
• Monitoring and review: how the plan will be monitored, reviewed and updated as the project progresses, including frequency of reviews, triggers for update and responsibilities.
• Pre-construction information: summary of key information provided by the client and principal designer, including existing health and safety hazards, asbestos surveys, structural condition and ground conditions.

How often should you complete this plan?

The construction phase plan must be prepared before the construction phase begins and must be kept up to date throughout the project. It should be reviewed at regular intervals, typically monthly, and updated whenever there is a significant change to the project scope, methodology, management structure, contractors on site or risk profile. Specific triggers for review include the introduction of new high-risk activities (such as demolition, piling or crane operations), changes to the site layout, new or amended pre-construction information from the client or principal designer, incidents or near misses that reveal gaps in the plan, and changes to emergency procedures or welfare facilities. At project completion, the plan should be reviewed one final time and filed as part of the health and safety file.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

• CDM 2015 (Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015)
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Related resources

More safety templates and guides:

• Risk assessment template
• Construction JSA / SWMS template
• Safety inspection checklist
• Hazard identification form
• Permit to work form
• Compliance and inspections
• Asset tracking
• Pricing