WHS management plans for construction projects: what's required
On larger construction projects, a Safe Work Method Statement for each high-risk activity is not enough on its own — the principal contractor must also prepare a written WHS management plan for the project as a whole.
When is it required?
Under the model WHS Regulations, a WHS management plan is required for a construction project — that is, construction work where the cost of the work is $250,000 or more. The principal contractor prepares it before work starts and keeps it for the duration of the project.
What it must contain
The plan must set out the names, positions and responsibilities of everyone with WHS duties on the project; the arrangements for consultation, cooperation and coordination between duty holders; the arrangements for managing WHS incidents; and the site safety rules, including how they are communicated to workers. It also needs to describe how SWMS for high-risk construction work will be obtained, reviewed and kept.
Keeping it current
A WHS management plan is a living document. As subcontractors come and go, as activities change, and as the site progresses, the plan and its supporting SWMS must be kept up to date and readily accessible to everyone on site.
Questions, answered
Who prepares the WHS management plan?
The principal contractor for the construction project prepares and maintains it. On most commercial projects the principal contractor is appointed in writing by the client (the person who commissions the work).
Does every subcontractor need their own plan?
No — the project has one WHS management plan prepared by the principal contractor. Subcontractors contribute their SWMS for high-risk work and must work in accordance with the project plan.
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