Gu i d a nc e N ote – CDM 2 0 1 5

- C o m mu n i ca ti n g Significant
R e s i d ua l R i s k
A CE Health & S af ety Grou p - A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

U nd er Regu l ati o n 9 of the Co nstructio n (De s ig n & Ma n a g e me n t ) R e g u la t io n s 2 0 1 5 ,

D e si g n ers h ave a number of duties, whic h in c lu de t h e ide n t if ic a t io n a n d e limin a t io n ,
s o f ar as i s reas onably practicable, of f o re s e e a ble r is k s t o t h e h e a lt h o r s a f e t y o f a ny
p ers o n carryi n g o ut or liable to be aff e c t e d by c o n s t r u c t io n wo r k ; ma in t a in in g o r c l e a ni ng
a s t ru ctu re; or using a structure desig n e d a s a wo r k pla c e . W h e re it is n o t po s s ible t o
el im in ate th es e risks, the desig ner must , s o f a r a s is re a s o n a bly pr a c t ic a ble t a k e s t e p s t o
re d uce or, i f th at is no t possible, contro l t h e r is k s t h ro u g h t h e s u bs e qu e n t de s ig n p ro c e ss;
prov ide i n f or m at ion about t hose risks to the p r incip al d es ig ner ; and ens ure
a ppropr i a te i n format ion is included in the health and s afety file. A d es ig ner m u st
t a k e al l rea s onable st eps t o provide , with the d es ig n, s ufficient info r matio n a b o u t
t he de s i gn , const ruct ion or maint en ance o f the s tr ucture, to ad eq uately as si st t h e
c l i e n t, oth e r designers and cont rac to r s to co mp ly with their d uties und er th e se
R e gu l ati on s .

S o h o w c an a Des ig n er meet the a bove re quire me nt to provide this

i n f o rm a t io n , co m m o n ly kn o wn a s Re sidua l Risk Inf orma tion?

T h e fol l ow i n g g uidance prov ides a s imple me t h o do lo g y f o r c o mmu n ic a t in g

si gn i fi can t re sidual risk inf o rmatio n o n dr a win g s .

Si gn i f i ca n t risks, as def ined in H SE L e g a l Gu ida n c e L 1 5 3 ‘ Ma n a g in g H e a lt h a nd

Safety i n Co nstructio n’, are ‘no t ne c e s s a r ily t h o s e t h a t in vo lve t h e g re a t e s t r is k s,
bu t th os e ( i ncluding health risks) th a t a re n o t lik e ly t o be o bvio u s , a re u n u s u a l, o r
li kel y to b e diff icult to manage eff e c t ive ly. ’
T he m eth odol ogy includes f our simple s ymbo ls , wh ic h a re u s e d de pe n din g o n t h e na t ure
o f t h e ri s k an d the inf ormation to be p ro vide d. NB It is impe r a t ive t h a t t h e s e s ymbo l s
are rep res en ted in colour o n drawings a n d t h a t dr a win g s a re pr in t e d o u t in c o lo u r so t he
s y mbol s are n ot conf used with o ther s ymbo ls o f t h e s a me s h a pe .

Residual Risk War ning - Wa r n s o f a r is k t h a t is

signif icant and t h a t c a n n o t be e limin a t e d wit h in
the desig n.

Compulsory Actio n - An it e m f o r wh ic h it is
recommended a pa r t ic u la r a c t io n is a do pt e d.

P rohibit ed Act io n - An it e m f o r wh ic h it is
recommended a pa r t ic u la r a c t io n is pro h ibit e d.

Significant Info r matio n - Sig n if ic a n t in f o r ma t io n

no t asso ciated wit h a n imme dia t e h a za rd;
inf o rmatio n that ma y a ff e c t t h e wa y a pro je c t is
managed or unde r t a k e n .

E x a m pl e s

The site is located within an Do not obstruct the walkway

occupied building and other during installation.
tenants will have access to the
common areas throughout
the contract period.

Space in front of the boilers Fan to be mounted

to remain clear for safe adjacent to the walkway to
burner removal. ease installation and future
maintenance.

I t is im p ortan t to identif y the specif ic a re a s /lo c a t io n s /o pe r a t io n /wo r k a c t ivit y t o whi c h t he y

re f e r s o th at th ere can be no misunder s t a n din g o r mis in t e r pre t a t io n . If in do u bt a c o v e r i ng
n o t e s h ou l d be pro v ided on the respec t ive dr a win g (s ).
Inf o rm a ti o n sh ou ld:
• i n c l u de det ails o f s ig n ifican t resid ual hazard s/ r isks and cr itical
de si g n a ss u mpt ion s
• be a c ti v i ty-s pecific rat h er t h a n gener al or site-sp ecific
• be re l a ti ve t o t h e des ign
• be de sc r ipt ive rat h er t h an prescr ip tiv e
• be c l e a r an d pres en t ed con cisely
• be c ro ss referen ced t o an y s up p or ting infor m ation/ d ocum entation
e . g . d e si gn as s u mpt ion s

Go o d / Bad Ex amp le

Fragile roof lights are p res ent o n the ro o f o f

t he warehouse.

This note is descriptive.

Fragile roof lights are p res ent o n the ro o f o f

t he warehouse a nd the co ntr acto r will need to
provide crawling b o ard s .
This note prescribes a particular method of working
which may not be the safest method of carrying out
the work.

E xample U t ilis ing t he R e s idua l Ri s k S y mb o l s o n a D r a w i n g

Indicates compulsory Instruction

Asbestos panelling to front

of process area. Do not
disturb Indicates probibitive Instruction

Indicates for information

Indicates warning
New lighting to be installed
above existing process plant,
this shall be carried out
during shut down periods
High noise and dust levels only
within Mill building, eye and
ear protection to be worn in
line with the client’s
requirements.
Existing high voltage cables
run between substations 1, 2
& 3. Substations will remain
energised throughout the
works.

Disclaimer: This note is intended as best practice guidance to assist ACE members in ma naging
risks in their business. Whilst the guidance is based on the experience of the authors and they
have made every effort to be accurate, this guidance is not intended to be professional advice and
neither ACE nor the members of the Health & Safety Group can accept any liability in connection
with the use by anyone of the note or any part of it. Members should always consider seeking
independent professional advice in any specific case or before pursuing any course of action.