When you manage a construction project as an investor, developer, or municipality, your main focus is on deadlines, budgets, and subcontractors. Occupational health and safety (OHS) remains on the sidelines until a labour inspectorate audit arrives or an accident occurs on site. A site OHS coordinator is not just a bureaucratic formality. They are the person who holds the safety system together when multiple companies, each with their own working methods, converge in one place.
This text summarises when an OHS coordinator is mandatory, what changed with the 2025 amendment, what an OHS plan entails, and what determines the cost.
If you are dealing with the broader safety setup on a construction site – the responsibilities of the client and contractors, documentation before site handover, and typical inspection findings – this is followed up in a separate overview: OHS on the construction site: duties, the OHS plan, and preparing for an inspection.
When an OHS coordinator is mandatory on site
The obligation arises under § 14 of Act No. 309/2006 Coll. when employees of more than one contractor will be working on the construction site. The client (investor) is then obliged to appoint in writing one or more coordinators, considering the type, size, and complexity of the construction project. A coordinator is appointed for both phases: during project preparation (from the development of the design documentation) and during implementation (from the handover of the site to the first contractor until the completed structure is handed over).
It is irrelevant whether it is a large-scale development project or the renovation of a municipal office. Two or more contractors on one site mean the obligation to appoint a coordinator.
When a coordinator is not appointed. The law has exceptions. A coordinator is not appointed for work the builder carries out for themselves on a self-help basis, for structures not requiring a project permit under the Building Act, and for listed technical infrastructure networks (low-voltage electricity, gas up to 4 bar, electronic communications).
Notification of work commencement and the OHS plan – mind the thresholds
In addition to the coordinator, the law addresses two related obligations with specific thresholds (§ 15):
- Notification of work commencement must be sent by the client to the regional labour inspectorate no later than 8 days before the site handover, if the work duration exceeds 30 working days and simultaneously more than 20 persons will be working on site for more than one day, or if the total volume of work exceeds 500 person-days.
- The OHS plan for the construction site is drawn up by the coordinator; it is mandatory for structures involving work with increased risk according to the implementing regulation, or for which the notification obligation arises.
What amendment No. 318/2025 Coll. changed
The Act on Ensuring Further OHS Conditions was amended by Act No. 318/2025 Coll., with phased effectiveness from the end of 2025 (the final part from 1 January 2026). The amendment strengthened the role of the coordinator on the construction site. The law now explicitly states that, throughout their appointment, the coordinator coordinates cooperation between contractors (including those rotating on site), their mutual awareness of the current work status and adopted measures, and continuously familiarises them with the plan and its updates. The coordinator is also bound by confidentiality. Contractors, conversely, have an explicit duty to implement the measures set by the coordinator and to require their implementation by others as well.
In practice, this means one thing: the coordinator’s role is no longer just “on paper”. The labour inspectorate monitors whether the coordinator is genuinely coordinating and whether contractors are implementing their measures.
The difference between an OHS plan and coordination
These two terms are often confused, but they are two separate, interconnected things.
The OHS plan for the construction site is a document. It is drawn up by the coordinator before work begins. It contains specific rules for the given construction project: initial training, accident reporting procedures, fire safety measures, rules for storing chemical substances, a definition of high-risk work, and inspection schedules. It must be available to all contractors.
OHS coordination is the actual performance of the activity during construction. The coordinator visits the site, checks compliance with the plan, convenes coordination meetings, highlights risks, and communicates with foremen and site managers.
Simply put: the plan is the document, coordination is the on-the-ground presence. Both are needed.
What to provide for a quick OHS coordinator quote
When you are requesting an OHS coordinator for a construction project, you will get the fastest quote when the level of risk and the actual coordination workload are clear. Without basic documents, only an indicative range can be given, which can vary by tens of percent:
- Scope of the project – ground plan, number of floors, built-up volume, length of a linear structure.
- Estimated construction duration – in months, ideally a schedule.
- Number of contractors – how many companies will be on site simultaneously.
- Nature of the project – new build, renovation during operation, demolition, work at heights, work with cranes.
- Frequency of inspections – daily presence, or 2–3 visits per week.
- Whether you already have an OHS plan – if not, it needs to be costed separately.
If you are unsure whether the obligation for a coordinator has already arisen, send us at least a basic description of the project, the number of contractors, and the expected implementation date. We will tell you whether you need a coordinator, an OHS plan, a notification of work commencement, or just supplementary documentation before an inspection.
Risks of a late solution
The most common mistake: the investor starts looking for a coordinator only when the first subcontractors are already working on site. This brings specific risks:
- Fine from the labour inspectorate. For failing to appoint a coordinator or failing to ensure an OHS plan where they are mandatory, a fine of up to CZK 400,000 may be imposed (Act No. 251/2005 Coll. on Labour Inspection – applies to both natural and legal persons). More serious breaches of OHS obligations, especially if they lead to health hazards, fall under stricter provisions with a fine of up to CZK 2,000,000.
- Work stoppage. An inspector can order work to be suspended until the situation is rectified. Every day of downtime costs money.
- Unclear liability in case of an accident. Without a coordinator and a plan, it is harder to prove who was responsible for what.
- Chaos in documentation. Each subcontractor maintains their own OHS agenda; without coordination, a confusing mess arises that will not withstand an inspection.
It pays to address the coordinator role ideally during the building permit project phase, at the latest before handing over the site to the first contractor. Timely appointment of a coordinator usually costs less than retrospectively catching up on the plan, missing records, and corrective measures once construction is already underway.
How much does an OHS coordinator cost on site
The cost of an OHS coordinator always depends on the specific parameters of the construction project. There is a difference between a short renovation with a few visits and a long construction project where dozens of subcontractors rotate and high-risk work is regularly carried out. Take the following figures as indicative.
OHS plan for the construction site – a one-off document. Indicatively from CZK 8,000 for smaller projects to CZK 30,000 and more for extensive or high-risk projects.
Coordination performance – a recurring activity during construction. Most commonly charged as:
- an hourly rate per visit (indicatively CZK 500–900/hour),
- a monthly flat fee based on inspection frequency (e.g., 2× per week, indicatively CZK 8,000–15,000/month),
- a lump sum for the entire construction period for smaller projects with a clear schedule.
The price increases with daily presence, a high number of subcontractors, work at heights and with cranes, renovation during operation, and a fast-track schedule.
For a reasonable business proposal, it is important to set up coordination to match the actual site operations. For smaller contracts, an OHS plan and regular inspections at key stages may suffice. For more complex projects, a fixed inspection regime, coordination minutes, and a clear link to the site manager or the investor’s technical supervisor make sense.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a coordinator if I am building a family house on a self-help basis? No. If you are building as a self-builder and no employees of multiple contractors are working for you, the obligation does not arise (the law explicitly exempts this situation). However, as soon as you engage multiple companies simultaneously, the obligation applies.
Who pays for the coordinator? The client (investor). Costs can be contractually transferred to the general contractor, but the responsibility for appointing the coordinator remains with the client.
Can the coordinator also be the site manager? The law does not directly prohibit it, but we do not recommend it in practice. The site manager pushes for deadlines and production; the coordinator is supposed to monitor safety. Combining roles reduces the effectiveness of the control.
What if I don’t appoint a coordinator and an inspection arrives? The labour inspectorate can impose a fine of up to CZK 400,000 for failing to appoint a coordinator or failing to ensure an OHS plan, and additionally order a work stoppage. Following amendment 318/2025, the inspectorate also monitors whether the coordinator is actually coordinating.
Is an OHS plan sufficient without a coordinator? No. Someone must put the plan into practice and monitor compliance. Without a coordinator, it is just a document in a site cabin. The inspectorate checks not only the existence of the plan but also its implementation.
Sources for this article
- Obligation and appointment of a coordinator, exceptions, OHS plan, notification of work commencement: § 14–18 of Act No. 309/2006 Coll. (current version)
- Amendment strengthening the coordinator’s role: Act No. 318/2025 Coll.
- Fines for offences on the construction site (failure to appoint a coordinator, failure to ensure a plan): Act No. 251/2005 Coll. on Labour Inspection
Do you need an OHS coordinator for your construction project, or would you like to discuss the project parameters without obligation? Get in touch – we will design a tailored scope for coordination and the OHS plan.
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Email us at info@sohe.cz or call +420 724 689 762.