HSE Professional Guide · Safety & Health Coordination · Issue 4 - HSE koordináció

The formal handover of the construction site is not merely a physical transfer of a location – it is the structured, documented transfer of responsibility, risk and occupational safety obligations. From the moment of handover, the main contractor bears full occupational safety responsibility for the site.

What this guide covers

The statutory basis and significance of the site handover procedure
Who must be present – and whose absence renders the procedure invalid
The three stages of the procedure: preparation, on-site walkthrough, documentation
Required documents with responsibility and HSE relevance indicated
The rules and consequences of conditional site acceptance
Mandatory content of the site handover record

Who should read this

Clients and employers
Main contractors and general contractors
Safety and Health Coordinators and responsible technical supervisors
Project and development managers

Introduction

The handover of the construction site is the critical process by which the client formally transfers the construction area to the main contractor. In practice, this process is frequently dealt with informally – a handshake and a few words. Yet from that moment, the main contractor bears full occupational safety responsibility for the site. An inadequately documented or non-compliant handover can have serious legal consequences for both parties.

This guide sets out what the legislation requires of the handover procedure, who must be present, what documents are needed, and how to handle deficiencies.

Statutory Basis

The handover of the construction site is governed jointly by Act C of 2023 on Hungarian Architecture (Méptv.) and the associated implementing government decrees that came into force on 1 October 2024 – in particular the amended Government Decree 191/2009. (IX.15.) on construction industry execution activities (Construction Code) – together with Decree 4/2002. (II.20.) SzCsM-EüM.

Construction work on site may only commence once the contractor has formally received the site from the client or the appointed project manager. Under Decree 4/2002., the occupational safety and health obligations transfer to the main contractor simultaneously with the site handover. Act C of 2023 (Méptv.) and Government Decree 191/2009. (IX.15.), as amended (Construction Code) — key provision

This means the handover procedure is not optional, cannot be deferred, and cannot be replaced by an informal agreement. The procedure must always be carried out in the presence and with the active participation of the Safety and Health Coordinator.

Who Must Be Present?

The site handover must not be an informal process. The participants must be clearly defined, and every person present must confirm attendance by signature on the handover document.

Construction Site Handover – Mandatory and Recommended Participants
Participant / role	Reason for attendance and responsibilities
Client / Employer's representative Mandatory	The handing-over party – confirms the site is in the condition agreed in the contract. Responsible for ensuring that all known hazards and encumbrances are communicated to the receiving party.
Main contractor's responsible technical supervisor Mandatory	The receiving party – takes over the site, and from this point bears technical and occupational safety responsibility for it. Personal attendance is mandatory; a proxy is not sufficient.
Safety and Health Coordinator (BE Coordinator) Mandatory	Mandatory attendance under Decree 4/2002. – responsible for the transfer of HSE obligations. Records identified hazards and the safety conditions in force at the time of handover.
Project / development manager Recommended	The client's technical representative – conveys design and permit documentation, clarifies boundary and interface issues.
Utility company representatives Where needed	On-site demonstration and documentation of active utility networks, protection zones and isolation points.
Environmental manager If relevant	Communicates hazardous material findings, soil contamination issues and environmental permit conditions.

HSE Professional Guide · Issue 4 · 2026 · Government Decree 191/2009. and Decree 4/2002. (II.20.) SzCsM-EüM

⛔ If any mandatory participant is absent

The BE Coordinator's presence is non-negotiable – their absence renders the handover invalid from an occupational safety perspective
The main contractor's responsible technical supervisor must attend in person – a proxy is not sufficient
If any mandatory participant is absent, the handover must be postponed

The Procedure

The three stages of the site handover:

Stage 1 · Preparation (at least 5–10 working days before handover)

The client collects and prepares all required documentation
The preliminary Safety and Health Plan is prepared and approved by the BE Coordinator – a prerequisite for handover
The main contractor's BE Coordinator carries out a preliminary site visit and risk assessment
Liaison with utility companies regarding active networks and required isolations
Preparation of the draft site handover record
Notification of participants and agreement of date and time

Stage 2 · On-site walkthrough and handover

Assembly at the site entrance – identification of participants, signing of attendance sheet
Physical walkthrough of the site boundary and its identification
On-site demonstration of active utility infrastructure – gas, water, drainage, electricity, telecoms networks, routes and isolation points
Presentation of known hazards – soil contamination, asbestos-containing materials, unstable surfaces, structures at risk of collapse
Communication of access routes, neighbouring areas and restrictions
Presentation of preservation obligations – existing buildings, structures, vegetation
Communication of HSE conditions – working hour restrictions, noise protection requirements
Recording of questions and observations on site – all disputed points must be documented immediately

Stage 3 · Documentation and close-out

Completion and signing of the site handover record on site
Recording of deficiencies, outstanding obligations and deadlines
Photographic documentation – at every corner and every known problem area
Handover of the document pack and confirmation of receipt
Opening of the Construction Log and entry of the first record
Handover of the Safety and Health Plan (preliminary and construction-phase) with confirmation of receipt

Required Documents

The site handover is a complex process in which, beyond the HSE documentation, a number of other documents are required for safe commencement of works. The table below indicates the responsible party for each document and whether it has direct HSE relevance. The BE Coordinator's role is to verify that documents are in place – not to prepare them.

⚠️ Important note

The document list below is not exhaustive – depending on the nature, scale and regulatory requirements of individual projects, additional documents may be required
Specific documentation requirements may vary between different sites and project types – this general guide does not replace project-specific legal and technical advice
It is the BE Coordinator's responsibility to identify the complete documentation requirements appropriate to the specific project

Legal and permit documentation
Document	Responsible party	HSE relevance
Final building permit	Client / employer	Non-HSE – but no work may commence without it; the BE Coordinator verifies its presence
Approved construction design documentation	Client / designer	Non-HSE – the BE Coordinator must be familiar with the designs to identify HSE risks
Preliminary Safety and Health Plan (design phase)	BE Coordinator	HSE – direct BE Coordinator responsibility
Construction-phase Safety and Health Plan	BE Coordinator	HSE – a prerequisite for handover; direct BE Coordinator responsibility
Advance notification to the Occupational Safety and Labour Inspectorate	Client / BE Coordinator	HSE – required where works exceed 30 working days with >20 workers simultaneously, or >500 person-days
Environmental permits, heritage protection consents (where relevant)	Client	Non-HSE – may contain restrictions affecting working conditions

Technical and utility documentation
Document	Responsible party	HSE relevance
Utility declarations and utility maps	Client / utility companies	HSE – excavation works cannot be carried out safely without knowledge of active utilities
Isolation point documentation	Utility companies / client	HSE – immediate access to isolation points in an emergency is mandatory
Geotechnical report and soil investigation data	Client / designer	Non-HSE – but required for risk assessment of excavation and foundation works
Geodetic survey and setting-out documentation	Client / designer	Non-HSE – the BE Coordinator verifies its presence

HSE and occupational safety documentation
Document	Responsible party	HSE relevance
Asbestos survey results and asbestos register	Client	HSE – mandatory where demolition works are involved; absence requires refusal of handover
Soil and groundwater contamination survey	Client	HSE – presence of hazardous substances is fundamental risk assessment data
Prior surveys for hazardous substances	Client	HSE – particularly critical on sites with an industrial or military history
Noise and vibration regulatory requirements and authority orders	Client / authority	HSE – relevant for worker exposure and protection of neighbouring areas

HSE Professional Guide · Issue 4 · 2026 · The BE Coordinator is responsible for verifying the presence of documents – not for preparing them

ℹ️ The BE Coordinator's role in documentation

The BE Coordinator is not responsible for preparing permit, technical or geodetic documents – these are the responsibility of the client and designer
The BE Coordinator is responsible for verifying that these documents are available before handover, and for incorporating the information they contain into the Safety and Health Plan and risk assessment
If any document is missing, the BE Coordinator must record this in the handover record and, where necessary, recommend refusal of the handover

Conditional Acceptance

If any required document is missing at handover, the main contractor has two options:

Option 1 – Refuse the handover

Where the absence of documentation means that safe working cannot be guaranteed (e.g. no utility declarations, no Safety and Health Plan, no valid building permit)
The handover must be postponed until the missing documents are provided
The refusal must be recorded in writing with the reason stated

Option 2 – Accept with reservations

The deficiencies are recorded in the handover record in itemised form
Mandatory deadlines are set for provision of missing documents
It is recorded that the affected work phases may not commence until the missing documents are received

Signing without reservations means the main contractor has accepted the site in its condition as at handover – and cannot subsequently claim that the client failed to disclose known hazards.

The Handover Record

The construction site handover record is the sole reliable evidence of the procedure. It is a key document in court, regulatory and insurance proceedings. The record must contain:

The exact date and time of handover – year, month, day, hour, minute
Precise identification of the site – address, plot number, description of the handed-over area
Identification of the handing-over party – client's name, registered address, representative's name and role
Identification of the receiving party – main contractor's name, responsible technical supervisor's name and licence number
The BE Coordinator's name, qualification certificate number and signature
An itemised list of documents handed over and confirmation of their receipt
Description of the physical condition of the site at handover
Identified hazards and existing risks – listed specifically, not in general terms
List of active utility networks and isolation points
Obligations remaining with the client after handover
Itemised list of deficiencies and reservations with deadlines
The Construction Log identifier and record of its opening
Signatures and stamps of all participants
List of appendices – photographic record, utility declarations, Safety and Health Plan extract

Connection to HSE Coordination

Immediate HSE tasks following handover:

The site handover record becomes a mandatory appendix to the Safety and Health Plan
The BE Coordinator must update the risk assessment based on hazards identified at handover
The first safety coordination meeting must be held within 5 working days of handover
Site mobilisation may only commence within the boundaries of the handed-over and documented area
If the client subsequently wishes to reclaim any part of the site for any reason, a new handover procedure is required

Next issue The Construction Log – the BE Coordinator's right and obligation to make entries

When entries are mandatory and when they are recommended – a detailed guide
Work stoppage, accident, regulatory inspection – what to record and how
What the coordinator must never enter in the Construction Log

Statutory references

Act C of 2023 on Hungarian Architecture (Méptv.) and the associated implementing government decrees that came into force on 1 October 2024
Government Decree 191/2009. (IX.15.) on construction industry execution activities (Construction Code) – as amended with effect from 1 October 2024 pursuant to Act C of 2023
Decree 4/2002. (II.20.) SzCsM-EüM on minimum occupational safety requirements on construction sites
Act XCIII of 1993 on Occupational Safety (OHS Act)
Government Decree 320/2014. (XII.13.) on the designation of occupational safety and labour authorities

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