How do I prove a delay was not my fault?

A delay is not yours if the client, the design team or an excusable event held up work you were ready to do. The proof is a before and after programme.

Keep the baseline programme, the updates, the late drawings and the instructions with their dates. Add site diaries that show crews waiting.

Separate your own delays from theirs. A claim that admits a contractor delay and removes it is more believable than one that blames others for everything.

Give notice in writing as the contract requires. Many contracts, including AS 4000, need notice of a delay within a set number of days. Follow with an analysis that links each event to lost days.