CDM REGULATIONS 2015: CLIENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Clients must prepare for more demanding project H&S duties
The CDM Regulations 2015 rewrite client obligations regarding the health and safety of construction teams, building maintenance workers and building users etc.
The new Regulations recognise the influence and importance of the client as the head of the supply chain and as the party best placed to set standards throughout a project.
We look below at the principle duty which will apply to the ‘commercial client’ under CDM 2015 from 6 April 2015. The ‘commercial client’ is any person (company or individual) for whom a construction project is carried out in the course or furtherance of the clients’ business.
This distinguishes such clients from ‘domestic’ clients e.g. home owners procuring building work, whose CDM 2015 duties are taken by contractors and designers.
Making and maintaining arrangements for managing the project
The most demanding client requirement under CDM 2015 is contained in Regulation 4 which states that the client must :
“make suitable arrangements for managing a project, including the allocation of sufficient time and other resources. Arrangements are suitable if they ensure that the construction work can be carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, without risks to the health or safety of any person affected by the project.”
HSE Legal Guidance on CDM 2015 states that to be ‘suitable’ these arrangements should include the following:
- P
roject team assembly – selection of suitably skilled and capable designers and contractors;
- Roles, functions and responsibilities – made clear to all;
- Resources and time – allocated for each stage of project;
- Communication, cooperation and coordination – between project team members;
- Compliance – steps to ensure Principal Designer and Principal Contractor comply;
- H&S Performance – how performance of others is maintained throughout project; and
- Welfare facilities – how client ensures that the suitable facilities provided during construction work.
Where the range and nature of risks to health and safety warrants the client management arrangements should also include:
- Standards of H&S – the expected standards including safe work practices and means by which standards will be maintained; and
- Designer expectations – the steps to help manage foreseeable risks through design.
Finally, the client must ensure that the arrangements are maintained and reviewed throughout the project.
HSE suggest that actions the client can take to maintain and review their arrangements are:
- Milestones – establishing key milestones in the life of the project where the client can assess progress of the project and determine whether health and safety standards are being met;
- Independent review – seek advice and on larger projects consider an independent review of standards.
Other major client responsibilities
There are a number of further client responsibilities which we will explore in further posts. These include:
- Pre-Construction Information;
- Appointment of the PD and PC;
- Construction Phase Plan;
- Health and Safety File; and
- Notification of projects to the Regulator.
CDM 2015 Information and Templates
See CDM 2015 Survey Results for the findings of our CDM 2015 Five Minute Online Survey.
We have published a great deal of further information and templates designed to support Clients, Designers, Principal Designers/Contractors and Contractors in meeting their duties under CDM Regulations 2015.
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY NEWS – END OF NEW CONTENT
The addition of content on this website ceased on 17th April 2020.
Material posted before this date can be found by clicking on our SEARCH NEWS DATABASE function.
CDM REGULATIONS 2015: GUIDES AND TEMPLATES
Summary of our advice and tools to aid CDM 2015 compliance
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 21st April 2020HSE WARN OF NEED FOR RPE FACE FIT TEST AND CHECK
Incorrectly fitted RPE will not protect the wearer from dangers to health
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 16th April 2020CORONA VIRUS: LATEST SITE OPERATING PROCEDURES
Industry Bodies publish risk management guidance Version 3
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 15th April 2020TOWER CRANE OUT OF SERVICE SAFETY ALERT
Important advice from Construction Plant-hire Association and HSE
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th March 2020HSE PLAN AND CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES 2020/21
Appointed CDM 2015 Principal Designers remain focus of HSE inspections
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th March 2020COVID-19 ADVICE & GUIDANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION
BuildUK support industry with advice, guidance and information
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th March 2020HSE TARGETING WELDING FUME CANCER RISK
Inspections to enforce improved controls required by new risk evidence
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th February 2020HSE TO OVERSEE NEW BUILDING SAFETY REGIME
Government to deliver biggest change in building safety for a generation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 21st January 2020FESTIVE GREETINGS TO ALL OUR READERS
Read the rest of this article »
SELECTED NEWS POSTED RECENTLY ON TWITTER
Links to other construction health and safety related news reports
HSE LOOK TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR CDM SUPPORT
Council Inspectors focus on CDM client duties – asbestos, fragility and RCS
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th November 2019HSE WELDING FUME REVISED GUIDANCE PUBLISHED
New research evidence on cancer link prompts revision on welding fume
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th November 2019STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th October 2019HSE RISK REDUCTION THROUGH DESIGN AWARD
Regulator seeks to promote hazard avoidance and risk minimisation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th October 2019HSE START PROJECT HEALTH RISK INTERVENTIONS
Regulator set to check health risks assessed and controls in place
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th September 2019AIF NATIONAL WORKING AT HEIGHT CONFERENCE
HSE Construction Head to speak at Access Industry Forum conference
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd September 2019NEW HSE HAVS CALCULATOR TO HELP CONTROL RISK
New calculator includes “cautious estimates” for common tools
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd September 2019IMPROVING CDM DESIGNER HAZARD AWARENESS
Research explores power of “multi-media digital tool” for design hazards
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th August 2019DEMOLITION FEDERATION ON RECENT INCIDENTS
NFDC ‘statement of awareness’ follows unplanned collapses
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th August 2019RAISING COMPETENCE AND MAKING BUILDINGS SAFER
Life-safety-critical disciplines urged to act on Interim Report
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th August 2019BUILDING WORKS COMPROMISED GAS SAFETY
Company and director fined after work created risk to residents
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th August 2019HSE SPEAK AT ACCESS INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2019
AIF National Working at Height Conference November 2019
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019