The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM Regulations) places legal duties on those involved in construction projects.
Part 2 of the CDM Regulations apply to all projects, whereas Part 3 only applies to 'notifiable' projects. These duties are outlined below:
Clients (excluding domestic clients)
All construction projects (Part 2 of the CDM Regulations)
- Check competence and resources of all appointees
- Ensure there are suitable management arrangements for the project including welfare facilities
- Allow sufficient time and resources for all stages
- Provide pre-construction information to designers and contractors
Additional duties for notifiable projects (Part 3 of the CDM Regulations)
- Appoint CDM Coordinator
- Appoint principal contractor
- Make sure that the construction phase does not start unless there are suitable welfare facilities and a construction phase plan is in place
- Provide information relating to the health and safety file to the CDM Coordinator
- Retain and provide access to the health and safety file
Note: There must be a CDM Coordinator and principal contractor until the end of the construction phase.
Designers
All construction projects (Part 2 of the CDM Regulations)
- Eliminate hazards and reduce risks during design
- Provide information about remaining risks
Additional duties for notifiable projects (Part 3 of the CDM Regulations)
- Check client is aware of duties and CDM Coordinator has been appointed
- Provide any information needed for the health and safety file
CDM Co-ordinators
For notifiable projects only (Part 3 of the CDM Regulations)
- Advise and assist the client with his/her duties
- Notify HSE
- Co-ordinate health and safety aspects of design work and cooperate with others involved with the project
- Facilitate good communication between client, designers and contractors
- Liaise with principal contractor regarding ongoing design
- Identify, collect and pass on pre-construction information
- Prepare/update health and safety file
Principal Contractors
Duties for notifiable projects (Part 3 of the CDM Regulations)
- Plan, manage and monitor construction phase in liaison with contractor
- Prepare, develop and implement a written plan and site rules (Initial plan completed before the construction phase begins.
- Give contractors relevant parts of the plan
- Make sure suitable welfare facilities are provided from the start and maintained throughout the construction phase
- Check competence of all appointees
- Ensure all workers have site inductions and any further information and training needed for the work
- Consult with the workers
- Liaise with CDM Coordinator regarding ongoing design
- Secure the site
Contractors
All construction projects (Part 2 of the CDM Regulations)
- Plan, manage and monitor own work and that of workers
- Check competence of all their appointees and workers
- Train own employees
- Provide information to their workers
- Comply with the specific requirements in Part 4 of the CDM Regulations
- Ensure there are adequate welfare facilities for their workers.
Additional duties for notifiable projects (Part 3 of the CDM Regulations)
- Check client is aware of duties and a CDM Coordinator has been appointed and HSE notified before starting work
- Co-operate with principal contractor in planning and managing work, including reasonable directions and site rules
- Provide details to the principal contractor of any contractor whom he engages in connection with carrying out the work
- Provide any information needed for the health and safety file
- Inform principal contractor of problems with the plan
- Inform principal contractor of reportable accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences.
Workers/everyone
- Check own competence
- Co-operate with others and co-ordinate work so as to ensure the health and safety of construction workers and others who may be affected by the work
- Report obvious risks