CDM Regulations: who does what for health and safety in design

The idea

CDM aims to make sure construction work is planned and managed so that people are not harmed, during building and later when the building is used and maintained. Safety is meant to be designed in from the start, and not added at the end.

The main duty holders

• Client. The person or organisation for whom the project is carried out. Clients must make suitable arrangements for managing the project, allow enough time and resources, appoint the right people, and ensure certain information and welfare facilities are provided. Domestic clients (people having work done on their own home) have fewer duties, and in most cases their duties pass to the contractor, or to the principal designer if appointed.
• Principal designer. Appointed by the client on projects with more than one contractor. They plan, manage and coordinate health and safety in the design phase and help to prepare the health and safety file.
• Designer. Anyone who prepares or modifies a design. They must consider health and safety and eliminate, reduce or control risks through design, and provide information on the remaining risks.
• Principal contractor. Appointed on projects with more than one contractor. They plan, manage and coordinate the construction phase, and prepare the construction phase plan.
• Contractor. Anyone who carries out construction work. They must plan, manage and monitor their work safely.
• Workers. They must be consulted, and must follow safety instructions.

One person or firm may hold more than one role if competent to do so.

Safety is meant to be designed in from the start, and not added at the end.

Designers' duties in practice

Designers should think about how a building will be built, used, cleaned and maintained, and, in the end, demolished. Examples of design decisions that reduce risk include:

• designing so that high-level work can be done from the ground or from safe platforms;
• avoiding unnecessary working at height, for instance by designing windows that can be cleaned safely;
• using lighter or smaller components to reduce manual handling;
• allowing safe access for maintenance of plant;
• considering hazardous materials;
• providing information to those who will build and maintain the building.

Documents

• Pre-construction information. The client provides information about the project and site that contractors and designers need.
• Construction phase plan. The contractor sets out how health and safety will be managed during construction.
• Health and safety file. A record of information that will be needed for future work on the building, handed to the client at the end.

Notification

Some larger projects must be notified to the Health and Safety Executive, based on their length and the number of people working on them. Check the current thresholds.

Competence and cooperation

Everyone must have the skills, knowledge and experience for their role, and cooperate and coordinate with others. This links with the competence requirements of the Building Safety Act in England. See The Building Safety Act.

Practical tips

• Discuss health and safety at the start, not at the end.
• Write down roles in appointments.
• Keep records of design decisions that reduce risk.
• Ask contractors for early input.

In short

CDM puts health and safety into the planning of construction. Know who does what, design out risks and keep the right documents.

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