CDM 2015 is now in force
The new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) are now in force from yesterday, 6 April 2015. The final version of the Legal series guidance to support CDM 2015 is available here. What has changed? Principal designer: The replacement of the CDM co-ordinator role (under CDM 2007) by principal designer.
This means that the responsibility for co-ordination of the pre-construction phase – which is crucial to the management of any successful construction project – will rest with an existing member of the design team.
Client: The new Regulations recognise the influence and importance of the client as the head of the supply chain and they are best placed to set standards throughout a project.
Competence: This will be split into its component parts of skills, knowledge, training and experience, and – if it relates to an organisation – organisational capability. This will provide clarity and help the industry to both assess and demonstrate that construction project teams have the right attributes to deliver a healthy and safe project. The technical standards set out in Part 4 of the new Regulations will remain essentially unchanged from those in guidance related to CDM 2007. HSE’s targeting and enforcement policy, as a proportionate and modern regulator, also remains unchanged.
Draft industry guidance There are a series of industry guides for duty holders under CDM 2015, and one for workers. They set out, in practical terms, what actions are required to deliver a safe and healthy construction project. HSE will also be working with stakeholders in the entertainments industry to provide specific guidance for these sectors.
Transitional arrangements
When CDM 2015 comes into force on 6 April 2015, there are transitional arrangements in place that will run for six months from 6 April 2015 to 6 October 2015.
