10 July 2015
CDM Regulations 2015 Now Apply in Full as Transition Period Ends
The new Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) came into effect on 6 April 2015 with a six-month transition period for on-going projects continuing beyond 6 October 2015 to make the necessary arrangements to comply with the new requirements. The transition period has now expired and CDM 2015 apply in full to all workplaces where construction work is taking place. The key changes under CDM 2015 are:
• The CDM co-ordinator role has been replaced by that of the Principal Designer
• The HSE notification threshold will now only apply to either projects lasting more than 30 working days AND involving more than 20 workers simultaneously OR projects exceeding more than 500 person days
• All construction projects will require a written construction phase health and safety plan
• Clarifying the provisions relating to domestic clients where their duties are fulfilled by the principal contractor.
HSE has produced a summary of the duty holders and their responsibilities under CDM 2015 and there are also industry guides available for each duty holder as well as workers setting out in practical terms what is required by each party:
• Clients
• Designers
• Principal Designers
• Principal Contractors
• Contractors
• Workers
HSE has released ‘L’ series guidance which provides an outline of the legal requirements that must be adhered to. Small and domestic contractors can download an app (for iOS and Android) produced by HSE in conjunction with CITB entitled ‘CDM Wizard’ as well as a template document to assist in writing construction phase health and safety plans.
For specific queries on CDM 2015, there are a series of dedicated FAQs for contractors:
• CDM Advisers
• Notification under CDM 2015
• Principal Designer (PD) Appointment
• Principal Designers on Design and Build Projects
• Self-Build Projects
• Maintenance Work
• Maintenance – Term Contract with a Maintenance Provider
The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has issued amendment sheets covering CDM 2015 for use with the JCT 2011 contracts, which can be found on the JCT website.
Build UK members can receive free advice on CDM 2015 via the Health and Safety Helpline on 0844 249 5351.