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Client’s CDM Compliance

[Checklist]

What are your client duties under CDM?

The regulations

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) place specific duties on all those involved with construction activities. The aim of the regulations is to have the right people for the right job at the right time to manage the risks. The focus is on effective planning and management of risk.

Construction work includes everything you would expect, as well as some less obvious activities like building repairs and maintenance, redecoration, high-pressure cleaning and work on fixed services such as electrical, gas and telephone installations.

Client duties

The term “client” applies to an individual, partnership or company. Under CDM you must account for and include the following:

Appoint the right duty holders. Select competent duty holders for each stage of the project. This includes appointing a principal designer and a principal contractor (where more than one contractor is involved) who have the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience.

Make sufficient preparations. You must ensure that sufficient time and resources are allocated to the planning, management, and co-ordination of the project. This includes providing relevant information to others to carry out their roles effectively, such as existing site information, and any known hazards, e.g. location of asbestos.

Notification of the project. You must notify the HSE about the project if it falls under the scope of notifiable.

Co-ordinate and collaborate. You are duty bound to promote effective communication, co-operation, and co-ordination between all duty holders involved in the project. This helps to ensure that risks are effectively managed.

Provide a suitable and safe environment. You must ensure that the construction site is safe and suitable for the work to be carried out. This includes taking steps to prevent unauthorised access, providing welfare facilities for workers, and considering the security and safety of neighbouring properties or people.

Carry out reviews and assessments. You should actively engage with the project by reviewing and assessing health and safety information provided by duty holders. This includes reviewing the construction phase plan, health and safety files, and regularly monitoring the progress and performance of the project in terms of health and safety. You must retain the health and safety file for the life of the completed build, e.g. until demolition of the building, including passing the file to new owners.

Tip. Our Client’s CDM Compliance Checklist will help you check that you have met the construction management requirements whenever you are responsible for organising construction work (see The next step ).

Tip. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that once you have appointed other duty holders your obligation ends. CDM means you retain your responsibility to the end of the project and beyond.

For our Client’s CDM Compliance Checklist, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 22 issue 12.