Key Roles in CDM 2015 – Part 2

Key Roles in CDM 2015

In a previous blog post, our health and safety consultants here at Howlett Health and Safety Services Ltd outlined the basics of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015).  Having come into force on 6th April 2015, these new rules have been conceived with the intention of taking much of the strain out of understanding what is required to ensure safe construction work.
There are various individuals and organisations that are subject to the terms of the CDM 2015 regulations and are referred to as dutyholders. Depending on their exact role, their duties may be absolute – meaning that they ‘must’ be complied with – or qualified by such terms as ‘as far as practicable’ or ‘as far as is reasonably practicable’, which dictate that the terms ‘should’ be complied with by dutyholders.

Client Duties

The Client holds the overall responsibility for each project. Whether the client is an organisation or an individual, they will be expected to make suitable arrangements for a project’s management, including the appointment of the Principal Designer (PD) and Principal Contractor (PC). The client assumes the roles of PD and PC until they have been appointed. Key responsibilities of the client are ensuring that:

Sufficient time and resources has been allocated for each project.

• Relevant information has been prepared and provided to other dutyholders
• Suitable welfare facilities are available during the length of the project.

Principal Designer (PD) Duties

For projects that have more than one contractor, the client must appoint a PD – an individual or organisation with the necessary ability, experience and knowledge for the role. The CDM 2015 Regulations require that essential information about site hazards and restrictions are supplied for all construction projects of whatever scale. Once appointed the PD must assist in pulling together the pre-construction information.

Principal Contractor (PC) Duties

The client appoints a principal contractor to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety for the construction phase of projects that require more than one contractor. The PC will be required to liaise with other dutyholders (i.e., Client & PD) and should be appointed as soon as possible by the Client. The PC will be responsible for all phases of the build.

 Designers Duties

Designers are defined as those that prepare or modify designs for a building, product or system related to construction work, and who are therefore expected, as part of their work, to eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks that may arise during a building’s construction and its subsequent maintenance and use.

Contractors Duties

Contractors that are subject to the revised rules – these being the individuals or companies responsible for the actual construction work. There key responsibilities are for the planning, management and monitoring of construction work under their control ensuring that it is carried out without health and safety being put at risk.

Workers Duties

Those individuals who are actually involved in the construction work are also covered by the CDM 2015 regulations. Key areas of responsibilities:

• Take care of their own health and safety
• Report anything that they see that is likely to endanger the health and safety of themselves or others.
• Co-operate with all key stakeholders involved in the project where required

Domestic Clients Duties

Domestic clients – such as those who have construction work carried out on their own home for non-business reasons fall within the regulations’ scope, albeit with their client duties normally being transferred to the contractor or principal contractor.

This article has touched very briefly on the key roles within the CDM 2015 regulations. There are specific industry based guidance that is available and the links below will provide more detailed information on the above roles.

Construction Industry Guidance

• Industry guidance for Clients
• Industry guidance for Principal Designers
• Industry guidance for Designers
• Industry guidance for Principal Contractors
• Industry guidance for Contractors
• Industry guidance for Workers

Events Industry Guidance

• Guidance for the Management & Use of Stages

Keep an eye on our blog for more pieces on the new rules and how they are likely to impact you.  Howlett Health and Safety Services are reliable and professional health and safety consultants in London, get in touch if you require any further information or advice on any aspect of health and safety.