CDM Regulations 2007

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM) help to:

• improve health and safety in your industry
• have the right people for the right job at the right time to manage the risks on site
• focus on effective planning and manage the risk - not the paperwork

Everyone controlling site work has health and safety responsibilities. Checking that working conditions are healthy and safe before work begins, and ensuring that the proposed work is not going to put others at risk, requires planning and organisation. This applies whatever the size of the site.

CDM 2007 places legal duties on virtually everyone involved in construction work.

Those with legal duties are commonly known as 'duty holders'.

Duty holders under CDM 2007 are:

Clients - A 'client' is anyone having construction or building work carried out as part of their business. This could be an individual, partnership or company and includes property developers or management companies for domestic properties.

CDM co-ordinators - A 'CDM co-ordinator' has to be appointed to advise the client on projects that last more than 30 days or involve 500 person days of construction work. The CDM co-ordinator's role is to advise the client on health and safety issues during the design and planning phases of construction work.

Designers - The term 'designer' has a broad meaning and relates to the function performed, rather than the profession or job title. Designers are those who, as part of their work, prepare design drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and the specification of articles and substances. This could include architects, engineers and quantity surveyors.

Principal contractors - A 'principal contractor' has to be appointed for projects which last more than 30 days or involve 500 person days of construction work. The principal contractor's role is to plan, manage and co-ordinate health and safety while construction work is being undertaken. The principal contractor is usually the main or managing contractor for the work.

Contractors - A 'contractor' is a business who is involved in construction, alteration, maintenance or demolition work. This could involve building, civil engineering, mechanical, electrical, demolition and maintenance companies, partnerships and the self-employed.

Workers - A 'worker' is anyone who carries out work during the construction, alteration, maintenance or demolition of a building or structure. A worker could be, for example, a plumber, electrician, scaffolder, painter, decorator, steel erector, as well as those supervising the work, such as foreman and charge hands.

For more information visit the HSE website