FAQs
What is Construction work?
Construction work is defined in CDM 2015, Regulation 2(1). The definition is broad and covers work of any scale and complexity. However, you should always take a proportionate approach to managing the risks involved. Please see https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/regulation/2/made
Does CDM 2015 apply to all maintenance work?
The definition of construction work has not changed under CDM 2015. The application to maintenance work remains the same as it was under CDM 2007.The Approved Code of Practice to CDM 2007 states:
The following are not construction work as defined: “…general maintenance of fixed plant, except when this is done as part of other construction work, or it involves substantial dismantling or alteration of fixed plant which is large enough to be a structure in its own right, for example structural alteration of a large silo; complex chemical plant; power station generator or large boiler;…”
Does CDM 2015 apply to a Small Builder?
Yes, CDM 2015 applies to all construction work including domestic projects. You will have different responsibilities depending on whether you are (for example):
the only contractor working on the job.
the principal contractor(PC).
one of the contractors working for a PC.
Does CDM 2015 apply to a Self Builder?
Yes, the provision of health and safety legislation now applies to domestic building projects. So, self builders now become responsible for their own safety when working on their own projects. Although, depending on how much of the project work you take on yourself, you could fall into one, or more, of the following categories, listed here under the term ‘duty-holders’:
CLIENT
DOMESTIC CLIENT
DESIGNER
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR
CONTRACTOR
WORKER
When is a construction project notifiable (F10)?
A construction project is notifiable if the construction work is expected to:
last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point on the project or exceed 500 person days
Does the 30 working days/500 person days on site include weekends, bank holidays etc?
Every day on which construction work is likely to be carried out should be counted, even if the work on that day is of a short duration. This includes holidays and weekends.
Who should notify a project?
The client has the duty to notify a construction project. In practice however, the client may ask someone else to notify on their behalf.
Who is a Client under CDM 2015?
A client is an organisation or individual having a construction project carried out. The CDM regulations apply to both domestic and commercial clients. The client has responsibility to make suitable arrangements for managing a project. This includes making sure that:
duty holders are appointed
sufficient time and resources are allocated
relevant information is prepared and provided to other duty holders
the principal designer and principal contractor carry out their duties
welfare facilities are provided
Download your guidance documents for clients here https://www.citb.co.uk/documents/cdm%20regs/2015/cdm-2015-clients-interactive.pdf The HSE have produced a short PDF summary guide 'Need building work done https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg411
What happens if there is more than one client?
If there is more than one client, then all of the clients may be considered to have duties under CDM. All of the possible clients can identify and agree who the clients are, and optionally, decide that only one of them should be responsible for carrying out the requirements of the client duties under CDM. All clients must still cooperate with everyone involved in the project and provide any relevant information for the project.
Who is the Principal Designer under CDM 2015?
A principal designer is appointed by the client of projects with more than one contractor. It can be an organisation or an individual with sufficient knowledge, experience and ability to carry out the role. The principal designer (PD) must be a designer and have control over the pre-construction phase of the project. The PD is responsible for planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating health and safety in the pre-construction phase of a project. Download the guidance document: https://www.citb.co.uk/documents/cdm%20regs/2015/cdm-2015-clients-interactive.pdf The Consultants Health and Safety Forum have produced guidance on their interpretation of the competencies required to undertake the role of PD. https://www.citb.co.uk/documents/cdm%20regs/consultants%20health%20and%20safety%20forum%20-%20guidance%20on%20pd%20competencies.pdf
Does every project need a principal designer?
Most projects. The principal designer is required on projects with more than one contractor (including subcontractors and contractors not appointed by the client). Because most projects (including small projects) involve more than one contractor are some stages, a principal designer is usually required.
What are the principal designer's duties?
The PD is responsible for planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating health and safety in the pre-construction phase of a project.. This includes identifying and controlling risks during project preparation, and ensuring other designers carry out their duties.
Who is a Designer under CDM 2015?
A designer is someone who as part of a business, prepares or modifies designs for a building, product or system relating to construction work. Download the guidance document: https://www.citb.co.uk/documents/cdm%20regs/2015/cdm-2015-designers-interactive.pdf
What are designer duties?
The designer’s role when preparing or modifying designs is to eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks that may happen during construction or maintenance and use of a building after it’s been built.
Do Designers need to produce Design Risk Assessments (DRAs) to comply with their duties under CDM?
The term Design Risk Assessments (DRAs), is not used in either the 1994, 2007 or the 2015 regulations or ACOP. A belief has developed amongst some safety professionals, planning supervisors/CDM coordinators/ CDM Advisors /Principal Designers, designers, and HSE inspectors that a DRA is required to guide or even justify the decisions made by a designer. Those HSE inspectors who have reviewed examples of DRAs have generally found them to be worthless documents, which added little value to the project. (NW Specialist Inspectors Designer Audit, Scotland & NE England Designer Initiative).
Every design is different, and every design requires a degree of calculation, assessment, review, and the proper exercise of judgement. Where the design process incorporates the consideration of hazard elimination and risk reduction, then the design process itself will satisfy the requirements of risk assessment. The drawings and any accompanying notes represent the record of significant findings of the assessment.
Much of the recording of DRA’s has developed as part of a verification culture that is considered to be extremely unhelpful in the promotion of sensible health and safety improvements.
Competent designers eliminate hazards and reduce risks – manage the risk, not the paperwork.
Who is a Principal Contractor (PC) under CDM 2015?
A principal contractor is appointed by the client to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the construction phase of a project when there’s more than one contractor involved.
Download the guidance document: https://www.citb.co.uk/documents/cdm%20regs/2015/cdm-2015-principal-contractors-interactive.pdf
Does every project need a Principal Contractor?
Most projects. The principal contractor is required on projects with more than one contractor (including subcontractors and contractors not appointed by the client). Because most projects (including small projects) involve more than one contractor are some stages, a principal contractor is usually required.
Who is a Contractor under CDM 2015?
A contractor is the individual or organisation doing the actual construction work. If you are a sole trader, self-employed worker, individual or business carrying out, managing or controlling work in the construction industry then this guidance is for you. Download the guidance document: https://www.citb.co.uk/documents/cdm%20regs/2015/cdm-2015-contractors-interactive.pdf
What are contractor duties?
Contractors duties are to plan, manage and monitor the construction work under their control to that is carried out safely. They must also coordinate their activities with other contractors, and comply with directions from the principal contractor. On single contractor projects (where there is no principal contractor) the single contractor has some extra duties including creating the construction phase plan and managing the construction phase.
Who is a Worker under CDM 2015?
A worker is an individual working for or under the control of contractors on a construction site. As people working for or under the control of contractors on a construction site the workers have duties as well as their employers.
Workers must:
be consulted about matters which affect their health, safety and welfare
take care of their own health and safety and others who may be affected by their actions
report anything they see which is likely to endanger either their own or others’ health and safety
cooperate with their employer, fellow workers, contractors and other duty holders.
Download the Guidance https://www.citb.co.uk/documents/cdm%20regs/2015/cdm-2015-workers-interactive.pdf
Can I carry out the role of more than one CDM duty holder on a project?
Yes, whether you are an individual or an organisation (client, designer, principal designer, contractor or principal contractor), you can carry out the role of more than one duty holder. You must have the skills, knowledge, experience and capability to carry out all of the functions of each role in a way that secures health and safety.
Do asbestos surveys come under the CDM Regulations?
The regulations are not clear on this. If you consider the survey work to be ‘examining a structure for faults’ it would not be considered construction work. However you consider the work to be ‘investigation’ work then it would be classed as construction work and come under The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. CDM or not the surveyors, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, still have a duty to carry out there work safely. They need to be trained and plan their work, to protect themselves and others.
Asbestos Resources
What is the pre-construction information?
The pre-construction information should be available on every construction project. It is the first CDM document that will be produced, as it is required before work starts on site. It includes information about the project, arrangements and the client brief. It should also include health and safety information about hazards on the site. This will be information like surveys and plans already in the client's possession or obtained by the client. It may also include information from any existing health and safety file. The client is responsible for providing the pre-construction information, assisted by the principal designer.
What is the construction phase plan?
The construction phase plan is also required on every construction project. It needs to be produced by the principal contractor, or if there is only one contractor, by the single contractor. The construction phase plan must be developed before work starts on site. It contains information on how health and safety will be managed throughout the construction phase. This document should be added to if new trades start and additional activities or arrangements need to be addressed.
What is the health and safety file?
The health and safety file is the final document to be produced under CDM. This document is handed over to the client on project completion. The health and safety file must be produced on any project with more than one contractor (including subcontractors). It contains health and safety information needed for future use, cleaning and maintenance of the building or structure. It is created throughout the project by the principal designer, with information gathered from the principal contractor, other designers and contractors.
Do the CDM Regulations apply in Scotland?
Yes, the CDM 2015 Regulations only apply England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland has similar legislation known as Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, both are based on the European Union’s Temporary or Mobile Construction Sites Directive.
Will the CDM Regulations apply after Brexit?
Yes, for the moment. The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. Under the UK-EU withdrawal agreement, a transition period will end on 31 December 2020 unless extended, during which time the UK will be treated for most purposes as if it were still an EU member state, and most EU law will continue to apply to the UK. Watch this space!
What Happens if I Don’t Comply with CDM?
Not following CDM 2015 regulations could result in a dangerous, or even fatal, accident during the completion of your project. Furthermore, your finished building may not be safe to use. Building can be risky. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), around a third of all workplace fatalities occur in construction and many thousands are injured each year. Breaching health and safety legislation could mean that construction work might need to be stopped by the HSE or your local authority. Further work to the project might be needed to fix any problems. Most importantly, you may be liable for prosecution.
How Big Is Pluto?
The physical size characteristics of Pluto are:
The RADIUS of Pluto is 732 miles
The DIAMETER of Pluto is 1,464 miles
The CIRCUMFERENCE of Pluto is 4,599 miles
The SURFACE AREA of Pluto is 6,733,363 square miles
The VOLUME of Pluto is 1,642,940,562 cubic miles.