self build and health and safety

lollb

Hi All

Just wondering if when commencing a self build do you need to notify the Health and Safety Authority?

Just wondering what other self builders have / are doing?

Lollb

Gumbo

Who is your health and safety PSCS? (Project Supervisor Construction Stage)

Rabbo

Yes, you need to appoint a competent PSDP, a competent PSCS and you need to notify the HSA of the project via the AF1 and AF2 forms.

Unfortunately, the health and safety legislation doesn't knit easily into self build projects.

The PSDP is usually, but not always, the supervising engineer/architect/surveyor/technician. You have a duty to make sure that they are able and competent for the role. They, in turn have other duties such as preparation of preliminary health and safety plans, ensuing the works are designed and carried out safely, etc.

Where you have a main contractor, they are usually appointed as the PSCS. Again, the client has a duty to ensure that they appoint a competent PSCS. In a self-build project, the client usually appoints themselves as PSCS. I would seriously question whether many self-builders have the required competency to carry out the role. Most don't know what a PSCS is. I'd imagine many others don't even notify the HSA or take any measures in relation to the health and safety regulations. The problem is if an accident occurs, the clients position is completely indefensible in these circumstances.

The government relaxed the building control regulations to make it easier for self builders to construct their own one-off houses. The reality is the health and safety regulations preclude a lot of inexperienced self-builders from constructing a house in the first place.

lollb

We are are going direct labour and will have an engineer signing off on everything

Gumbo

lollb wrote: »

We are are going direct labour and will have an engineer signing off on everything

Is he acting into the PSCS role?