Tell me about the new CDM Regulations...
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced the new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM Regulations) will come into force on 6 April 2015. As previously, the Regulations will apply to all building and construction projects, irrespective of their size, nature of the work and duration. The Regulations and their supporting guidance are currently in draft form, to enable duty holders to familiarise themselves with the main requirements and thus they may be subject to some changes.
The main changes are as follows:
- The role of the CDM Co-ordinator will be replaced by a ‘PRINCIPAL DESIGNER’ so the job of co-ordinating the pre-construction planning phase will fall to an existing member of the design team – most likely the architect.
- The client will be recognised as being the head of the supply chain and best placed to set standards throughout a project.
- The requirement to demonstrate competence is split into three parts:
o Experience
o Organisational capability.
This has the benefit of removing the situation whereby numerous individuals with different specialisms are brought in to manage the various aspects of the CDM Co-ordinator role.
The CDM 2007 Regulations focus attention on effective planning and management of construction projects, from design concept onwards. The aim is for health and safety considerations to be treated as a normal part of a project’s development, not an afterthought or bolt-on extra. The object of the CDM Regulations is to reduce the risk of harm to those who have to build, use, maintain and demolish structures.
The regulations identify notifiable projects depending on size, number of workers, duration etc. and place upon them certain health and safety procedures which must be carried out. Previously, these have been carried out by the CDM Co-ordinator appointed to all notifiable projects.
What will the Principal Designer do?
What will the Principal Designer do?
The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER is the designer with control over the pre-construction phase of the project. This is the very earliest stage of a project from concept design through to planning the delivery of the construction work. The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER must be appointed in writing by the client to carry out their duties. The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER is an organisation (or on a smaller project they can be an individual) that has:
(a) The technical knowledge of the construction industry relevant to the project;
(b) The understanding and skills to manage and co-ordinate the pre-construction phase, including any design work carried out after construction begins.
Where the PRINCIPAL DESIGNER is an organisation, it should have the organisational capability to carry out the role as well as the necessary skills, knowledge and experience which individual designers must have.
In the new regulations the client takes on extra duties to ensure design risk is being managed and that there is suitable provision being made by the contractor to manage health and safety.
The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER takes on the role of completing the pre-construction information pack and the health and safety file, these in practice are relatively simple documents to complete though a PRINCIPAL DESIGNER may still require advice and guidance on the suitability of things such as asbestos, soil and UXO reports.
The main duties imposed on the client are as follows:
The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER is the designer with control over the pre-construction phase of the project. This is the very earliest stage of a project from concept design through to planning the delivery of the construction work. The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER must be appointed in writing by the client to carry out their duties. The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER is an organisation (or on a smaller project they can be an individual) that has:
(a) The technical knowledge of the construction industry relevant to the project;
(b) The understanding and skills to manage and co-ordinate the pre-construction phase, including any design work carried out after construction begins.
Where the PRINCIPAL DESIGNER is an organisation, it should have the organisational capability to carry out the role as well as the necessary skills, knowledge and experience which individual designers must have.
In the new regulations the client takes on extra duties to ensure design risk is being managed and that there is suitable provision being made by the contractor to manage health and safety.
The PRINCIPAL DESIGNER takes on the role of completing the pre-construction information pack and the health and safety file, these in practice are relatively simple documents to complete though a PRINCIPAL DESIGNER may still require advice and guidance on the suitability of things such as asbestos, soil and UXO reports.
The main duties imposed on the client are as follows:
- Ensure the PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR has made suitable provision for managing health and safety on site prior to starting and for the duration of the works.
- Ensure prior to works starting on site, there is a suitable plan for managing health and safety.
- Ensure the PRINCIPAL DESIGNER and PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR comply with their duties to manage health and safety.
- Provide pre-construction information to designers and contractors.
- Take ownership of significant risks and set standards for managing this.
- Produce pre-construction information.
- Produce a health and safety file.
- Manage health and safety information during the design stage.
- To identify as well as eliminate or manage risk associated to construction works and end user.
Do I need Risk Management support?
If you’re concerned about the impending changes to the CDM Regulations, and what this will mean for you, Intrinsic can help – providing support by acting as your CDM department, working alongside you, as PRINCIPAL DESIGNER, ensuring your obligations under the regulations are fully met.
Intrinsic Risk Management, your CDM department
Our experienced team can help with the following to support you in the role of PRINCIPAL DESIGNER:
- Interpreting the client brief. The client brief is the key to the project. It should be clear and unambiguous, set out key requirements, outline the vision of the project and communicate the aims. We will use our considerable experience to ensure both parties understand their obligations and, where necessary, fulfil these duties on your behalf.
- Project planning. We will write a health and safety strategy ensuring, from the start, there is an overarching document detailing roles and responsibilities and managing processes throughout the project, ensuring procedures and policies are in place, and that appropriate strategies have been put in place (e.g. traffic management plans, waste management plans, etc.).
- On-site representation. Maintaining an adequate presence on site to implement and oversee the appropriate management of the health, safety and welfare of all persons carrying out the work on, or who may be affected by, the project;.
- Preparation of the required assessments. All projects will need specific risk assessments, e.g. asbestos surveys, providing the information necessary to designers and contractors to enable such risks to be mitigated.
- Ongoing monitoring and reporting, to an agreed timetable, of the health, safety and welfare management to stakeholders providing an assurance to all stakeholders that their interests are being protected. This results in a demonstrable commitment to your duty of care.
Get more information…
For more information on CDM Regulations and the impending changes, visit:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd261.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd261.htm
