CDM Regulations 2015

An Introduction

Will Longworth 04/09/2015

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Overview
What are the CDM Regulations?

Regulations directed towards improving health and safety in the construction industry:-
•

• Very high level framework to ensure health and safety issues are properly considered.
• Allocate responsibility very specifically within a project.
• Promote project specific health and safety.

They are NOT an exhaustive list of rules on how to manage health and safety risks!

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Contents

PART 1: Introduction
•

PART 2: Client Duties

•

PART 3: Health and Safety Duties and Roles

•

PART 4: General Requirements for all Construction Sites

•

PART 5: General
•

SCHEDULES 1-5
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PART 1: Introduction
Glossary and Clarifications

•
Defines very rigid roles within a construction project:-

• Client – “any person for whom a project is carried out”

• Designer – “any person who … (a) prepares or modifies a design; or (b) arranges for, or instructs,
any person under their control to do so”
• Contractor – “any person (including a non-domestic client) who … carries out, manages or
controls construction work”

•
Identifies criteria to determine when CDM is applicable:-

• Any building, civil engineering or engineering construction – Construction, demolition, alteration,

excavation, service installation or commissioning.
•
BUT
• Specific exclusion for onsite & preparatory works for the exploration of mineral resources.

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PART 2: Client Duties

• Ensure suitable arrangements for the management of the project are made.

• Ensure contractors and designers are fulfilling their respective duties.

• If working with multiple contractors/designers they must appoint a principal contractor/designer.

NOTE: Principal designer now assumes role of CDM coordinator.

• Ensure project is notified to the HSE necessary:-

• > 30 days in duration
• > 500 man hours over project lifespan

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PART 3: Health and Safety Duties and Roles
General Duties

• Contractors/designers must have skills, knowledge and experience to fulfil the role in a manner
that safeguards health and safety.
• Contractor/designer should not accept a role if they do not satisfy this criteria.
• The appointing party shall take all reasonable steps to ensure competency of the
appointed party.

• All parties are expected to cooperate with one another.

• Any person involved in the project has a responsibility to report any issue which presents a
health and safety threat.

• All parties are responsible for providing clear information.

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PART 3: Health and Safety Duties and Roles
Designer Duties

• Designer has a duty to ensure their client is aware of their duties under the CDM Regulations.

• Shall consider general principles and pre-construction information to as far as reasonably

possible eliminate risk – through whole project lifecycle, construction to decommissioning.

• If not possible to eliminate risk, steps should be taken to minimise it.

• Update the health and safety file with all relevant information.

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PART 3: Health and Safety Duties and Roles
Contractor Duties

• Contractor has a duty to ensure their client is aware of their duties under the CDM Regulations.

• Plan, manage and monitor work to minimise the risk to health and safety.

• Must NOT appoint people without the relevant skills and experience to carry out the work safely.

• Provide appropriate supervision to those working on their behalf.

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 PART 4: General Requirements for all Construction
Sites

• Safe places of construction work • Traffic routes

• Good order and site security
• Stability of structures
• Demolition and dismantling
• Explosives
• Excavations
• Cofferdams and caissons
• Reports of inspections
• Energy distribution installations
• Prevention of drowning
• Vehicles
• Prevention of risk from fire, flooding and asphyxiation
• Emergency procedures
• Emergency routes and exits
• Fire detection and fire-fighting
• Fresh air
• Temperature and weather protection
• Lighting

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Standard Clause Layout

With very few exceptions the regulations are set out in the following manner:

•
Suitable / sufficient / as far as reasonably possible / reasonably practicable…

…measures shall be taken to maintain health and safety standards on site in respect of…
•

•
…purpose of site / activity / type of work / equipment being used / people present.

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Examples

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PART 5: General

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Closing statements + formalities

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Schedules
Appendices with requirements on more specific areas

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Schedule 1: Enforcement in respect of fires

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Schedule 2: Minimum welfare facilities required for construction sites

•
Schedule 3: Work involving particular risks

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Schedule 4: Transitional and saving provisions

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Summary

Improve health and safety performance through:

• Promote accountability – no ambiguity as to who is responsible.

• Prompt issues to be considered – common sense written down.

• CDM Regulations do not supersede other working regulations and practice – they direct you to
what you should be considering.

CDM Regulations should deliver project specific health and safety provisions.

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