Why do I need to employ a CDM co-ordinator?
June 1st 2010 Each issue the HSE shares one of the most popular questions it has been asked on the HSE infoline the previous month
Since the introduction of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations in 2007, if you are a client of construction work (except if you are a domestic client), you must appoint a co-ordinator (CDM-C) on all notifiable construction projects. A notifiable project is one that lasts more than 30 working days or 500 ‘person days’, for example 50 people working for more than 10 days.
You should appoint the CDM-C early on in the project and involve them in each part of the process.
Before work begins
The CDM-C’s first tasks are to advise on the appointment of competent contractors, and to identify and collect information on hazards that designers and contractors could not reasonably be expected to anticipate. If there are significant gaps in the information, the CDM-C will advise you that additional surveys are required.
Design process
The CDM-C will facilitate co-operation, co-ordination and communication throughout the design process which can be a challenge, particularly on larger projects. This involves ensuring the relevant designers and contractors are brought together, normally through design reviews, to discuss the suitability and compatibility of designs in relation to health and safety.
At design reviews it’s the CDM-C’s job to question any aspects of the project design that might cause workers, members of the public or you as the client to be exposed to health and safety hazards. It’s much better to raise issues at the design stage than wait until something goes wrong during construction. The CDM-C should work with designers and contractors to consider alternative methods of work or design alterations to eliminate the health and safety risk altogether, or to reduce it so far as is reasonably practicable.
Construction work
At the beginning of the work itself, the CDM-C should advise on the suitability of management arrangements in the construction phase heath and safety plan. They will also monitor the design throughout construction.
Handover
The CDM-C’s final task is to handover the health and safety file to you. This contains information collected throughout the project about any health and safety risks to be managed during any subsequent maintenance, repair, construction work or demolition.
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