Changes to CDM Regulations 2015 Come into Force

From Monday 6 April, the 2007 Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) were replaced to help workers, contractors, designers and clients work together to improve health and safety.

The CDM Regulations are the main set of regulations for managing the health, safety and welfare of construction projects, and the updated version requires that small and medium size construction businesses plan and manage health and safety.

Key changes to the CDM Regulations include:

• The revised Regulations apply to all projects including domestic client jobs.
• All projects must have a written construction phase plan.
• The role of CDM co-ordinator in the previous CDM Regs 2007 has been removed and replaced with a new role of principal designer.
• There is a duty to make sure all persons doing the job have the right skills, knowledge, training and experience.
• A Principal designer and principal contractor must be appointed on projects that will have more than one contractor.

If you’re new to Construction (Design and Management), or are unsure what it’s all about the HSE have produced guidance 'Managing health and safety in construction - Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 - on the legal requirements for CDM 2015, which can be found here.

They have also revised their construction web pages, produced a short client leaflet and a new construction phase plan template for small projects.