CDM Regulations 2015 & Duty holders

Here’s a list of all the duty holders and their responsibilities:

• Clients 

These are organisations or individuals for whom a construction project is carried out. They must make suitable arrangements for managing the project, including appointing other duty holders and allocating sufficient time and resources. They need to regularly review and maintain these arrangements throughout the project. Additionally, they must ensure the principal designer has prepared a health and safety file for the project. 

The CDM regulations only apply to commercial clients and do not apply to homeowners, such as those having a home extension. In such cases, the responsibilities fall to other duty holders like the contractor or principal contractor. 

• Principal designer  

These designers are appointed by the client for projects involving more than one contractor. They can be an organisation or an individual with the necessary knowledge, experience, and ability to perform the role. Their responsibilities include planning, managing, monitoring, and coordinating health and safety during the pre-construction phase. They must also assist and advise the client in providing pre-construction information, ensuring that designers and contractors have all the relevant details to fulfill their duties. 

• Designers  

These are the organisations or individuals who, as part of a business, prepare or modify designs for a building, product or system relating to construction work. These individuals include anyone involved in the design work and altering of the project, which could include architect as an example. This role impacts the health and safety of those constructing, working in, or even eventually demolishing the project. 

• Principal contractors  

These are contractors appointed by the client to coordinate the construction phase of a project where it involves more than one contractor. They are required to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety (including those to general members of the public) in the construction phase of a project. They must communicate the information with the principal designer when relevant to the planning, management monitoring and coordination of the pre-construction phase.  

• Contractors   

These individuals or companies are responsible for the actual construction work. They must plan, manage, and monitor the construction work under their control. This includes ensuring that all workers they employ or appoint have received a site-specific training induction, unless it is provided by the principal contractor. 

• Workers    

Workers are individuals who carry out tasks involved in building, altering, maintaining, or demolishing buildings or structures. They must only perform work for which they have the necessary skills, knowledge, training, and experience. Apprentices must receive appropriate training and supervision while completing their tasks. 

The construction phase plan is a document required under the CDM regulations, which outlines how health and safety risks will be managed during the construction phase. If the project lasts longer than 500 person days or 30 working days (with more than 20 people working at the same time), not only will you need to notify the HSE, but you’ll also need to prepare a detailed CPP if it is your responsibility. 

• If you are the sole contractor or the principal contractor, you must draw up the construction phase plan. 
• If you are a contractor working on behalf of the principal contractor, you do not have to draw one up; they are responsible for it. 

To determine whether your project will exceed 500 person days, multiply the number of people on site by the number of days they will be there. For example, if you have 10 people working for 70 days, it will be 10 x 70 = 700 person days. 

Yes, both documents serve different purposes: 

• Pre-Construction Information (PCI): This document provides details about the site, the nature of the work, and any present hazards. It helps those preparing bids to understand what resources are needed to perform their duties under the regulations. 
• Construction Phase Plan (CPP): This document outlines how risks will be managed during the construction phase. It includes information on site rules and the measures taken to ensure safety. The CPP needs to be updated regularly as the project progresses. 

Yes, if your project exceeds the threshold, you must notify the HSE. Remember that working days include weekends and bank holidays if work is being carried out on those days. 

Who notifies the HSE depends on your role. Generally, the responsibility lies with the client. However, clients can delegate this responsibility to another duty holder, such as the contractor (or principal contractor if there is more than one contractor) or the principal designer. This delegation mainly applies to domestic clients, such as those having a conservatory built. 

Under CDM regulations, it is essential that each person carrying out their role receives the appropriate level of training. The required level of training varies depending on the specific role, and what applies to one person may not apply to another. However, it is important to note that, regardless of their role, everyone should have at least a basic understanding of CDM regulations. 

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the training you may need to carry out these roles; 

• Construction site safety 
• General health and safety 
• Working at height 
• Manual handling 
• COSHH 
• Fire Safety