CDM 2007 INDUSTRY VIEWS

Industry body considers how CDM 2007 is working

The Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) is looking at how the CDM 2007 Regulations are embedding on construction projects. The views of HSE Inspectors, Contractors, Designers, CDM-C and others have been canvassed in advance of a formal review.

Comment: A paper containing the full list of comments made by dutyholders can be download from the HSE website via the link below. Paperwork and bureaucracy are still concerns for most classes of dutyholder and it appears that some CDM Clients may not have embraced CDM 2007 as enthusiastically and effectively as others might wish. Clients are also missing from the list of duythloders commenting.

Dutyholder Comments on CDM 2007 (Full List)  

Key points made by each dutyholder: 

Designers

  • Good awareness of CDM 2007 especially with larger companies and those involved in Government work;
  • Varied interpretations of the requirements and limited awareness of the industry guidance. Many create own systems and consequently reluctant to reduce paperwork and inclined to insist on risk assessments, etc;
  • Pre-qualification schemes can increase administrative burden, are not universally accepted and not necessarily in conformity with the ACOP;
  • Not all CDM-C’s have fully adjusted to the new regime and are continuing to focus on paperwork and;
  • CDM 2007 is much better than CDM 94 but there is still a long way to go in realising the benefits. It is necessary to develop better ways of persuading people to fully adopt the CDM 2007 approach.

Principal Contractors/Contractors

  • Key actions and checks are still not being actioned on larger projects due to link between the Client and the CDM-C resulting in PC taking on tasks that should have been completed before construction work started;
  • CDM-C reluctant to stand up to the Client and thereby falling short of the ACOP standard. The worsening economic climate may exacerbate this effect and;
  • Contractors trying to make CDM 2007 work and many duty holders try hard and achieve improvements but CDM 2007 is still seen as a paper chase.

Trade Unions

  • Worker engagement requirements are still not adhered to on many sites and seen erroneously as an optional and not a legal requirement and;
  • Welfare facilities are often inadequate.

Engineering Construction

  • Not convinced that CDM 2007 has reduced bureaucracy, particularly for competence assessment. Too much insistence on rigid approaches, eg possession of a particular qualification/card and;
  • Consider that decision to consolidate CDM and CHSW Regulations has brought benefits.

Association for Project Safety (APS)

  • APS carried out a survey of members’ views. The survey examined views on a 12-month period from early 2007 to early 2008. Some key findings were:
  • 77% indicated consequent overall client compliance with CDM 2007;
  • 69% thought that Designers are giving more commitment to the new Regulations although CDM-C view on proportion of Designers Up to speed with CDM 2007 was only 48% and;
  • 69% thought there is now more information available at the start of project.

This article was posted on 13th November 2008 in ALL LATEST NEWS, CDM 2007.
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