CDM 2015: PRINCIPAL DESIGNER FUNCTION FALTERING
Survey reveals confusion and non-compliance over PD appointment
Our CDM 2015 One Year On survey was open between 1st April 2016 and 31st May 2016, The survey asked three substantive questions:
- How does CDM 2015 compare to CDM 2007?
- How does the Principal Designer (PD) role compare to the CDM Coordinator?
- How is the Principal Designer (PD) role working
A total of 163 completed responses were received and the majority of respondents (50%) report that their principal role involved ‘health and safety’. Many respondents also completed the free text fields.
Our thanks go to everyone who took part in the survey.
Large majority believe PD not working well
The Survey Data is published in full so that readers might draw their own conclusions. We offer the following observations and conclusions based on the replies and free text comment:
- CDM 2015 v CDM 2007 – respondents are almost equally divided in their overall assessment of CDM 2015 compared to CDM 2007. A significant proportion (37%) report CDM 2015 to be an improvement compared to CDM 2007 whilst a slightly smaller proportion (32%) report that CDM 2015 is worse. In addition, no change was reported by 31% of respondents;
Principal Designer v CDM Coordinator – a significant proportion (43%) report that the PD role is worse than the CDM-C whilst a smaller proportion (32%) report that the PD role is an improvement. In addition, no change was reported by 25% of respondents; and
- Performance of PD role – a large majority (64%) report that the PD role is working poorly or inadequately whilst less than half this percentage (31%) report that the role is working well or adequately. In addition, 5% were unable to say how well the role is working.
Reluctance, confusion and non-compliance prevail
We asked further questions regarding compliance, understanding and behaviour of dutyholders. The replies reveal the following findings:
- Reluctance and Confusion – a large majority (66%) report that design organisations are reluctant to accept PD appointments. In addition, almost three-quarters of respondents (71%) report confusion over what the PD must do to comply with the regulations;
- Compliance – poor compliance by principal designers, designers and clients is reported by the greatest proportion of respondents. By contrast, good compliance by principal contractors and contractors is reported by the greatest proportion of respondents. At the ends of the spectrum, poor compliance by PDs is reported by 52% of respondents whilst good compliance by PCs is reported by 67% of respondents; and
- Client PD Appointments – significant proportions of respondents report that project clients are: failing to appoint a PD (37%); appointing an inappropriate organisation (48%); or failing to properly resource the PD function (55%).
Main conclusions
We draw the following conclusions from the survey:
- The Principal Designer function is faltering twelve months after the new regulations came into operation. A large majority report the PD function is not working well (64%) and confusion (71%) regarding the actions required of the PD. The proportion of respondents holding these views has increased since the first survey of visitors to our website in November 2015;
- Despite the function not working well only 36% believe that HSE guidance on the PD function is inadequate. This suggests that even more time is needed for the regulations and guidance to become understood and acted upon by clients and appointed Principal Designers; and
- In the short-term the suite of HSE and Industry guidance might be supplemented by further HSE FAQS regarding the PD appointment and delivery of the function. This may help reduce the confusion, uncertainty and non-compliance reported by our respondents.
We would be glad to receive any observations or comment on the survey.
Further guidance on Principal Designer function
Readers may find our posts regarding the Principal Designer helpful in understanding and delivering on the PD function.
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