What is the role of a PSDP and when is it required?

What is the role of a PSDP and when is it required?

The role of the Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP) is a legal requirement and must be undertaken to co-ordinate the health and safety considerations from project initiation to handover. As experts in providing the PSDP role, we influence safety on a project which ultimately lasts longer than just the construction period. The safety conscious recommendations made by the PSDP and the decisions taken by the designers and client, impact the building users significantly.

Our aim is to minimise the potential safety risks which may arise during the operation of the site, or the property. We work with the design team to ensure that recommendation made to the client and the design team take account of the Principles of Prevention. To ensure that there is a full understanding of these recommendations, there is a duty on the design team to co-ordinate with the PSDP as the designs develops.

The appointment of a PSDP on a project is required when:

• Construction work is expected to take longer than 30 working days.
• If the work involves more than one contractor (or sub-contractor).
• If there is a particular risk present on the project.
• If work will exceed 500 person days.

It is not enough to appoint a PSDP before the issue of a tender or shortly before starting on site.  Time is needed from the outset to make recommendations to reduce the safety implications during the life span of the building. The client has a duty to “Appointment in writing, before design work starts, of a competent and adequately resourced project supervisor for the design process (PSDP)”.

Working with ORS gives you the confidence in knowing that your statutory obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 are met. Our knowledge and experience gives you peace of mind that the health and safety element of the project is compliant and professionally managed. We have developed our PSDP system to ensure that our duties and those of the clients are fulfilled and in an efficient manner.

To find out more about the role of the PSDP, contact Seán Fay, from the ORS Health and Safety Management team, at s.fay@ors.ie.