CDM 2015

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) replaced the CDM 2007 Regulations on the 6th April 2015. CDM 2015 provides the main legal requirements for managing health, safety and welfare on construction projects throughout the United Kingdom. These Regulations are governed by criminal law and conformance by persons and organisations with a duty is not optional. Failure to meet the requirements would mean a breach which could lead to prosecution, fines and irreparable damage to a company’s reputation.

Client

Under the CDM 2015, the Client has overall Health and Safety responsibility for the project, although this does not mean they need to take an active role, but they must make suitable arrangements to ensure the Regulations are met. Clients have a major influence over the way a project is procured and managed. Regardless of the size of the project, the Client has contractual control, appoints designers and contractors and controls the availability of money, time and other resources. For construction projects where there is expected to be more than one contractor, the Client must appoint a Principal Designer and a Principal Contractor.

Principal Designer

CDM 2015 replaced the role of CDM Coordinator with that of a new duty holder - the Principal Designer. The Principal Designer attracts the key responsibility for ensuring the pre-construction period is planned and managed in such a way that secures the health, safety and welfare of others involved or affected by the project. The Client should appoint a Principal Designer as early in a project as possible, ideally from the very earliest stage of a project i.e. at concept design stage and then right through to planning the delivery of the construction works. This can be extended to cover the construction phase. The Regulations define the Principal Designers duties.

Why Choose Riddell PM?

Riddell PM has been operating in the Construction Industry for over 25 years across a wide range of project types and industry sectors, including:

• Building Construction
• Railways
• Water Treatment
• Sports and Leisure
• Manufacturing
• Healthcare
• Airports
• Education

We have the skills, knowledge, experience and capability to successfully carry out the Principal Designer role. We have a good understanding of building design, a thorough knowledge of construction systems and practice and an ability to negotiate the reduction of risk with building designers.

We employ suitably qualified staff with the appropriate skillset to support our Clients, and as a company we have robust practices and procedures to ensure we meet our Client’s expectations and obligations under CDM 2015.

Expertise

When we are appointed to undertake the role of Principal Designer, we:

• Improve planning and management of projects from the start
• Gather the Pre-Construction Information ready for Tender issue to prospective Principal Contractors
• Identify hazards early so that they can be eliminated or reduced at design and planning stages, and the remaining risks can be properly managed.
• Target effort where it can do the most good in terms of health & safety
• Encourage communication, competencies, co-operation and co-ordination within the project participants.
• Produce a fully compliant Health & Safety File

Please give us a call on 01383 622 500 or email us on [email protected] if you would like further information on how Riddell PM can assist with the role of Principal Designer.