Safety coordinators review dozens of plans per project. Here's exactly what they check — and in what order.
GC safety coordinators don't read your Fall Protection Plan cover to cover. They have a mental checklist — or a physical one — and they scan for specific elements. If those elements are present, you pass. If they're missing, you get a revision request.
Understanding what they look for gives you an advantage. Build your plan to hit every checkpoint, and it passes review the first time. Here's what safety coordinators at major commercial GCs check for.
First thing they check. They look at the cover page for the project name and address, then scan the body for project-specific references. If it looks like a template with blanks filled in, it's flagged immediately.
How SafeDocs fixes this: SafeDocs references your project name, site address, and company throughout every section — not just on the cover page.
Second thing they check. They flip to the rescue section (or search for 'rescue') and look for specific procedures, time targets, and equipment lists. 'Call 911' is an automatic rejection.
How SafeDocs fixes this: Detailed rescue plan with multiple scenarios, step-by-step procedures, equipment requirements, and suspension trauma guidance.
They look for a specific name and title — not 'the competent person' generically. They'll also check if this person is in Procore's project directory.
How SafeDocs fixes this: Your competent person's name and title appear in the designation section, throughout the procedures, and on the signature pages.
They scan for CFR references. A plan that says 'per OSHA regulations' instead of '29 CFR 1926.502(d)' looks like it was written by someone who hasn't read the standard.
How SafeDocs fixes this: Every applicable section cites specific OSHA regulation numbers — not vague references to 'OSHA standards.'
They look for competent person certification, management approval, and worker acknowledgment sections. These demonstrate that the plan isn't just a document — it's being actively used.
How SafeDocs fixes this: Competent person certification, management approval signature block, and 15-row worker training acknowledgment log included by default.
A Word document with inconsistent formatting, no table of contents, or missing page numbers doesn't inspire confidence. The plan should look like it was prepared by a professional — because that's what GCs expect.
How SafeDocs fixes this: Professional PDF with cover page, table of contents, formatted tables, OSHA callout references, and consistent typography throughout.