30+ years' Project Management Experience Working
For Major UK Clients / Consultants / Contractors

Tel: 01525 217867   Email: ch@cchpm.co.uk

Know Your CDM Responsibilities and Obligations

A handy checklist to make sure you know your CDM responsibilities and obligations

Clients are required to comply with the Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2007 – as a CDM Coordinator, we ensure clients understand their obligations and that these obligations are complied with.

Following is a summary of the key points for all parties concerned with CDM:

As Client you must make sure
  • 1. Designers, contractors, and other team members are competent; adequately resourced; and appointed early enough to undertake their duties;
  • 2. There is sufficient time for each stage;
  • 3. They cooperate with others so all duty holders to comply with their duties;
  • 4. They co-ordinate their own works to ensure safety of those involved;
  • 5. Reasonable management arrangements are in place;
  • 6. Contactors have suitable welfare;
  • 7. Where appropriate the works comply with the Workplace (HS&W) Regs 1992; and,
  • 8. Produce H&S File so future designers, contractors, and others understand significant risks inherent in the property.
The duties of the CDM Coordinator are
  • 1. Advise clients to ensure they comply with their duties principally
    • a. Appointment of competent designers & contractors
    • b. Adequate arrangements in place for the management of the works
  • 2. Notify HSE
  • 3. Co-ordinate design work & planning etc where relevant to H&S
  • 4. Identify preconstruction info
  • 5. Ensure information is fully issued
  • 6. Manage flow of H&S info
  • 7. Advise on suitability of Construction Phase Plan
  • 8. Ensure production of the H&S File
The Designers should
  • 1. Make sure they are competent and adequately resourced to address H&S issues
  • 2. Check Clients are aware of their duties
  • 3. Avoid foreseeable risks; eliminate hazards so far as reasonable; and reduce risk on those remaining
  • 4. Provide information on significant risks associated with the design
  • 5. Coordinate with others to improve the way risks are managed and controlled
The Principle Contractor must
  • 1. Satisfy themselves: Clients are aware of their duties; CDM-C appointed; HSE notified
  • 2. Make sure they are competent to address H&S issues
  • 3. Ensure construction phase properly planned, managed, adequately resourced, and appropriate.
  • 4. Ensure every contractor informed of the minimum amount of time to plan and prepare the works
  • 5. Ensure all contractors have information to carry out works safely and without risk to health.
  • 6. Requests for information should be met promptly
  • 7. Ensure safe working and co-ordination and co-ordination between contractors
  • 8. Prepare a suitable Construction Phase Plan (CPP):
    • a. Before construction works begin
    • b. Develop in discussion with, and communicate to, contractors
    • c. Implement
    • d. Update as project progresses
  • 9. Satisfy themselves designers and contractors are competent and adequately resourced
  • 10. Ensure suitable welfare facilities provided from the start of the works
  • 11. Take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access
  • 12. Prepare and enforce site rules
  • 13. Provide CPP and other information to contractors, including self employed
  • 14. Liaise with CDM-C on design
  • 15. Provide information for H&S File
  • 16. Ensure all workers have been provided with suitable H&S induction, information, and training
  • 17. Ensure that the workforce is consulted on H&S
  • 18. Display F10
The Contractor must
  • 1. Check Clients are aware of their duties
  • 2. Satisfy themselves that they, any one they employ, are competent and adequately resourced
  • 3. Plan, manage, and monitor workers under their control are safe from the start of works
  • 4. Ensure contractors they employ are informed of the time they have to plan and prepare the works
  • 5. Provide workers under their control information and inductions to complete the works safely
  • 6. Report problems or respond to emergencies appropriately
  • 7. Comply with Principle Contractors welfare principles and duties relating to H&S on sites
  • 8. Co-operate and co-ordinate with others on the project
  • 9. Ensure workforce properly consulted on H&S matters
  • 10. Obtain specialist advice when planning high risk works
  • 11. On Notifiable projects:
    • a. Check CDM-C appointed & HSE notified
    • b. Tell Principle Contractor about risks created by their works
    • c. Provide details of contractors engaged on the project
    • d. Comply with reasonable direction or rules of the Principle Contractor
    • e. Inform Principle Contractors about accidents and dangerous occurrences
    • f. Provide information for the H&S File

Download This Checklist As A PDF »

Download further guidance from the HSE web site »

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