VIC (Joint Site Inspection): what the project manager needs to know about this visit to avoid letting a contractor start without the mandatory legal framework
“VIC done → OK”: three words in a trade’s administrative table. Behind this note lies one of the few legal conditions that formally bars a contractor from starting work if it hasn’t been met. Without a VIC, any intervention on site is out of bounds.
Type | Phase | Actors | Impact | Stakes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Document | Execution | CSPS (safety coordinator), MOE (project manager), Contractor, Client (MO) | High | regulatory | “Administrative” section of each trade in the CR |
1. Operational definition + common mistake
The Visite d’Inspection Commune (VIC, “Joint Site Inspection”) is the mandatory preliminary visit organized by the health & safety coordinator (CSPS) before a contractor takes possession of a work zone. It’s required under Article R4532-20 of the French Labor Code. The VIC lets the CSPS present the contractor with the risks present on site, the interfaces with other trades, the collective protections in place, and the safety instructions. At the end of the visit, a VIC record is drawn up and signed.
In the analyzed CR, the note “VIC done → OK” in the Administrative section of each active trade (01, 02, 03) confirms this obligation has been met. Conversely, if a VIC is missing, the CR must flag it as ACTION.
Many assume the VIC is just a courtesy welcome visit or site walk-through — in reality, it’s a regulatory act whose absence is an offense. The CR spells this out in its general notes: “The absence of a joint inspection, a PPSPS, and a signed subcontractor-approval request from the client constitutes a prohibition on intervening on site.”
2. Where it appears
In a site meeting report — in the “Administrative” section of each trade, as the first line before studies and follow-up. It’s recorded as a finding: “VIC done → OK” (compliant), “Schedule VIC” (to be planned, ACTION status), or missing (anomaly). In this CR, trades 01, 02, and 03 show “VIC done → OK.” Trade 08/09 Electrical shows “Schedule VIC” (intervention planned for mid-July 2026 — VIC to be organized before start).
3. How to read this entry in the CR
If you read “VIC done → OK” → the regulatory condition is met. Check that the VIC record is archived (it can be requested in the event of an inspection).
If you read “Schedule VIC” or the field is blank → the VIC hasn’t been carried out. If the contractor is already working on site, this is a regulatory non-conformity: trigger an ACTION immediately and contact the CSPS.
If a trade due to start in the coming weeks doesn’t yet have a VIC → schedule the VIC with the CSPS before the start date and note it in the CR as “VIC to be scheduled for [date].”
4. Who does what
Actor | What VIC means to them | Concrete action |
|---|---|---|
CSPS | A legal obligation on their initiative | Organize the VIC before any trade starts; draw up and sign the VIC record; archive it |
MOE / OPC | A start-up condition to control | Check for “VIC done” in the CR before confirming the actual start of works; alert the CSPS if missing |
Contractor | A mandatory condition before working on site | Don’t start without a completed VIC; keep the signed record in their site logbook |
Client (MO) | Responsibility for safety coordination | Ensure the CSPS organizes VICs ahead of each trade — in the event of a failure, the client’s liability may be engaged |
5. What this changes in practice
A project manager who systematically checks the VIC note for each trade can prevent non-compliant starts and protect both the client and the contractors. A project manager who lets a trade start without a confirmed VIC risks the CSPS or the labor inspectorate finding an offense, with potentially criminal consequences in the event of an accident.
Failure scenario: the special-foundations trade starts before the VIC is organized with the CSPS (tight deadline, schedule pressure). An accident occurs in the excavation. The investigation reveals the absence of a VIC: the CSPS, the contractor, and the client are exposed to criminal proceedings for breach of safety-coordination rules.
6. Example of real wording
“VIC done” — Obs.: OK (Trade 01 Earthworks)
“Schedule VIC” (Trade 08/09 Electrical — intervention planned mid-July 2026)
7. Points of caution
A VIC is not just a site walk-through: it’s a regulatory act with a record to be signed (Article R4532-20 of the Labor Code).
A VIC isn’t permanent: if a contractor returns to site after a long interruption or for a new phase, a new VIC may be needed.
The VIC must be organized by the CSPS, not the MOE or the contractor — don’t confuse the roles.
A VIC marked “done” with no archived record can’t be proven: always require the written record.
The VIC doesn’t replace the PPSPS: both are mandatory and complementary.
8. Not to be confused with
Related term | Key difference |
|---|---|
PPSPS | The contractor’s health & safety plan — a written document distinct from the VIC (a visit record) |
PGC | General coordination plan — the overall framework; the VIC is a per-contractor application of it |
Site meeting | Technical/administrative coordination meeting — the VIC is specifically a prerequisite before a trade starts |
Labor inspectorate | External oversight authority — the VIC is an obligation internal to the site |
9. Related terms
Same phase (trade start-up): PPSPS · PGC · Subcontractor approval · RJC · ACTION
Same actor (CSPS): Health & safety coordinator · Prevention plan · DIUO
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