Groundworks and civil engineering compliance checklist

Groundworks and civil engineering contractors face a wide range of compliance requirements — from plant safety and excavation management to environmental permits and utility records. Here is what you need to have in place.

Insurance

Public liability insurance — minimum £5 million. Some clients require £10 million or more for larger civils projects.
Employers' liability insurance — minimum £5 million
Plant and equipment insurance — covering excavators, dumpers, rollers and other plant
Contract works / all risks insurance — covering the works against damage and collapse
Professional indemnity insurance — if providing design services

Accreditation

CHAS or SMAS — SSIP health and safety pre-qualification. Complys helps you maintain the compliance documents required to obtain and keep these.
Constructionline — widely required for public sector and infrastructure work
CECA membership — Civil Engineering Contractors Association, recognised by many public sector clients

Operative qualifications and cards

CSCS card — appropriate level for each operative's role
CPCS card — Construction Plant Competence Scheme. Required for plant operators — excavators, dumpers, rollers, telehandlers. Each machine category requires its own card.
NPORS card — National Plant Operators Registration Scheme, an alternative to CPCS accepted by many clients
Street works licence (NRSWA) — required for any work on or near the public highway. Operatives must hold the appropriate unit cards.
Confined spaces training — for any work in manholes, culverts or other confined spaces
Asbestos awareness training — essential for groundworks, as buried asbestos cement pipes and tanks are common
First aid at work certificate — at least one operative on site

Plant and equipment records

LOLER thorough examination certificates for any lifting equipment (cranes, lifting attachments)
PUWER inspection records for all plant and equipment
Pre-use inspection checklists for each machine
Plant service and maintenance records
Operator licences and CPCS/NPORS cards matched to each machine

Health, safety and environmental documents

Written health and safety policy
Site-specific RAMS
Excavation risk assessment and collapse prevention plan
Utility strike prevention plan — CAT scan records, drawings, permit to dig
Environmental permit or exemption (for work near watercourses, or involving waste)
Groundwater protection plan where applicable
Toolbox talk records
Accident and near miss records

Compliance checklist summary

✓ Public liability insurance (min £5m)
✓ Employers' liability insurance (min £5m)
✓ Plant and equipment insurance
✓ CHAS or SMAS accreditation
✓ CSCS cards for all operatives
✓ CPCS or NPORS cards for all plant operators (correct category)
✓ Street works (NRSWA) unit cards where applicable
✓ Confined spaces training records
✓ Asbestos awareness training records
✓ First aid certificate on site
✓ LOLER and PUWER inspection records for all plant
✓ Site-specific RAMS
✓ Permit to dig and utility records
✓ Right to work evidence for all employees