Health and\u00a0safety in construction is governed by the Construction, Design and Management Regulations (CDM). The Construction Design and Management regulations were updated in 2015 (CDM2015) with new regulations coming into force on 6 April 2015. Under the CDM2015 regulations, the client has a number of legally binding duties and failure to undertake these duties can result in criminal\u00a0convictions. The following note outlines the main duties of a client in ensuring a safe building site.<\/p>\n
Complying with CDM 2015 will help ensure that no-one is harmed during the work, and that your building is safe to use and maintain while giving you good value. Effective planning will also help ensure that your work is well managed with fewer unexpected costs and problems. <\/span><\/p>\n CDM 2015 applies to all building and construction work and includes new build, demolition, refurbishment, extensions, conversions, repair and maintenance. It applies to all sizes of project, equally. <\/span><\/p>\n CDM 2015 became law on 6 April 2015 with every project commencing after that date requiring to comply with it. Those projects where a CDM coordinator was already appointed prior to 6 April 2015 have until 5 October 2015 to make the appropriate appointments. <\/span><\/p>\n There are three main duty holders:<\/span><\/p>\n Where a project is likely to have more than one contractor involved (such as sub-contractors etc), the client must:<\/span><\/p>\n In practice every construction and refurbishment project is likely to need a principal designer and the client needs to appoint them in writing.<\/span><\/p>\n John Gilbert Architects preference is to be principal designer on every project we are the lead consultant. This ensures a clear line of communication and responsibility.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n John Gilbert Architects is\u00a0suitably experienced to be principal designer on a wide range of projects, we are OHSAS:18001 accredited and our staff undertake regular health and safety training. We are building our internal expertise and where we are in any doubt, we employ a dedicated health and\u00a0safety professional as an advisor. A summary of our relevant experience and that of our appointed CDM advisor (where relevant) is available on request.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n We will provide you with a separate quote for our services as principal designer role which ensures adequate resources are available to undertake the work required. We ask that this quote is accepted in writing, if you wish to appoint us as principal designer.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The client must:<\/span><\/p>\n As principal designer, we will manage this process and report back to you at each stage on CDM issues. We include reporting and risk assessment within each design team meeting agenda and our internal processes. <\/span><\/p>\n We can assist with information for the F10 notice and as principal designer we produce the pre-construction information document.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n A principal contractor is required to plan, manage and coordinate the construction work. Appoint them as early as possible so they are involved in discussions with the principal designer about the work. Getting the right people for the right job means your contractors need to have the skills, knowledge and experience to identify, reduce and manage health and safety risks. This is also the case if they are a company (known as having \u2018organisational capability\u2019 for the job). <\/span><\/p>\n The principal contractor must:<\/span><\/p>\n It is advisable to ensure the duty to provide information for the health and safety file is contained within the main contract prelims. <\/span><\/p>\n As principal designer we will take the contractor supplied information, produce the health and safety file and provide two paper copies for your records.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n For some construction work (work lasting longer than 30 days with more than 20 workers working at the same time, or involving 500 person days of work), you need to notify HSE of the project as soon as possible before construction work starts. <\/span><\/p>\n As principal designer we can provide you with information to enable you to\u00a0 <\/span>fill in the F10 notification form.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n If you are an employer, or you have members of the public visiting your premises, you need to be sure that they are protected from the risks of construction work. Discuss with your designer and contractor how the construction work may affect the public, residents and your employees, eg you may have to re-route pedestrian access; make sure signs to your entrance are clear; or change the way your deliveries operate.<\/span><\/p>\n A client must:<\/span><\/p>\n A client must:<\/span><\/p>\n As Principal Designer we would produce the health and safety file and provide two paper copies for your records.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n At the end of the build the principal designer should give you a health and safety file. If the principal designer leaves before the end of the project, the principal contractor (or contractor if there is only one contractor) should do this. It is a record of useful information which will help you manage health and safety risks during any future maintenance, repair, construction work or demolition. You should keep the file, make it available to anyone who needs to alter or maintain the building, and update it if circumstances change. <\/span><\/p>\n For more information see:<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Appointment stage<\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
\n
\nDesign stage <\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
\n
\nAppointing a principal contractor<\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
\n
\n
\nNotifying construction projects <\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
\nProtecting members of the public, including your employees <\/span><\/h1>\n
During construction<\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
At completion<\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
\n
\nKeep the health and safety file <\/span><\/h1>\n
More information<\/span><\/h1>\n