HSE Acronyms explained: CDM

CDM 2015 stands for the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. These regulations have been in force in the UK since 2015 and set out the legal requirements for managing health, safety, and welfare during construction projects. CDM 2015 applies to both domestic and commercial projects; however, commercial clients have specific duties and responsibilities under the regulations to ensure construction work is planned, managed, and carried out safely.

What is a commercial client?

A commercial client is any individual, partnership, or organisation commissioning construction work in connection with a business or undertaking. This includes:

• Businesses and retailers carrying out building alterations.
• Schools, academies, and local authorities.
• Housing associations.
• Commercial and residential landlords.
• Agricultural businesses.

Key Responsibilities Under CDM 2015

Under CDM 2015, commercial clients are obliged to make suitable arrangements for managing their construction project to ensure health and safety risks are managed effectively. For you, this may include:

• Appointing contractors and designers (if more than one contractor is involved then there should be a principal contractor/designer). These contractors and designers should be suitably qualified with the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience.
• Ensuring the principal designer and contractor carry out their duties.
• Allowing enough time and resources for each stage of the project.
• Providing appropriate welfare facilities for the duration of the project.
• Maintaining and reviewing all management arrangements for the duration.
• Providing pre-construction information for all designers and contractors (whether they have been appointed or are preparing to bid for the contract).
• Ensuring the principal contractor has prepared a construction phase plan (before each phase has begun).
• Ensuring the principal designer has prepared a health and safety file that is amended as required, and made accessible to anyone who needs it for successive work at the site.

When Must a Project Be Notified to the HSE?

A project must be notified to the HSE if it is expected to:

• Last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers on site simultaneously, or
• Exceed 500 person-days of construction work.

How long do the CDM 2015 regulations last for a construction project?

As commercial client you are responsible for the health and safety of the project, and thus responsibility starts from the time that the decision is made to go ahead with the project, until beyond the end of the project. 

Importantly, your responsibilities continue for any health and safety matters that arise from the use and maintenance of the building even after construction has ceased. You retain responsibility until you no longer have a legal interest in the building.

But what if you’re not a construction health and safety expert?

Many people/organisations who are categorised as commercial clients are not experts when it comes to construction and the associated health and safety management. It is understandable then that the idea of being responsible for this aspect may appear daunting. 

But regardless, you will need to appoint the people with the necessary knowledge, skills, experience and organisational proficiency to carry out the work safely.

How can the Health & Safety Dept help?

We have a health and safety eLearning course available to use at your convenience. This half hour online course is a no-nonsense guide to CDM Regulations. It covers planning, managing and maintaining everyone’s safety during a construction project. 

This course is CPD accredited with IOSH approval, and will help guide you through the legal responsibilities you will have as a commercial client.

If you want more than this, though, we are also available for more in-depth health and safety support, helping you cover your responsibilities under CDM.

If you’d like to find out more about how The Health & Safety Dept can help your business, then reach out today and we’ll be happy to help.