Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM2007) place duties upon clients, client's agents (where appointed), designers and contractors to ensure their approach to health and safety is co-ordinated and managed effectively throughout all stages of a construction project; from conception, design and planning through to the carrying out of works on site and subsequent maintenance and repair.

Domestic client; In general whilst most commercial activities are controlled, certain limitations apply and in particular much of the regulations may not apply to construction work for a project for a domestic client.

Clients; must be reasonably satisfied they only use competent people as CDM co-ordinator, designer(s) and principal contractor and be satisfied that sufficient resources, including time, have been or will be allocated to enable the project to be carried out in compliance with Health and Safety Law.

Designers; must when carrying out design work, consider the hazards and risks, avoid foreseeable risks to those involved in the construction and future use of the structure, should eliminate hazards and reduce risk associated with those hazards which remain, provide adequate information about any significant risks and co-ordinate their work with that of others.

Principal contractor; must plan, manage and co-ordinate work during the construction phase in order to ensure that the risks are properly controlled and taking account of the information contained in the pre-construction information provided by the client, and any other information provided by contractors. They must ensure that a suitable construction phase plan is prepared before construction work begins, is developed, communicated, implemented and updated as the project progresses. They must liaise with the CDM co-ordinator and provide the CDM co-ordinator promptly with any information relevant to the health and safety file.

A construction phase plan; The contractor should ensure that a construction phase plan is prepared before construction work begins, is developed, communicated, implemented and updated as the project progresses. The way in which the construction phase will be managed and the key health and safety issues for the particular project must be set out in writing in the construction phase plan.

A Health and Safety File; should contain the information needed to allow future construction work, including cleaning, maintenance, alterations, refurbishment and demolition to be carried out safely. Information in the file should alert those carrying out such work to risks, and should help them to decide how to work safely.

CDM co-ordinator

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 can require the appointment of a CDM co-ordinator.

The role of CDM co-ordinator is to provide the client with a key project advisor in respect of construction health and safety risk management matters. They should assist and advise the client on appointment of competent designers and contractors and the adequacy of management arrangements; ensure proper co-ordination of the health and safety aspects of the design process; facilitate good communication and co-operation between project team members and prepare the health and safety file, review, amend or add to the file as the project progresses.

We can act and provide professional services as CDM co-ordinator and provide manage and control projects in respect of health and safety issues in accordance with the regulations.

We value highly and ensure development of a close working relationship with the client, contractor, and respective designers.