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Aim: �Construction Design Management (CDM) Regulations

List the client and professional responsibilities in CDM 2015.

Carry out the project length test in CDM 2015 for project notification.

Discuss construction information recording and sharing.

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

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Learning Outcome and Assessment Criteria

P6. Discuss the importance of construction design management for ensuring site safety.

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The Construction Design Management

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The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations [CDM] 2015

CDM 2015 applies to all construction work. It outlines requirements for health and safety management on construction projects.
Its objective is to reduce the risk of harm to those that have to build, use, maintain, and demolish structures.
CDM 2007 primarily focused on reducing on-site risks, while CDM 2015 emphasises early risk management and control in the project environment before construction begins. For example,
Incorporate innovative permanent safety railings into the roof design;
Design an efficient one-way vehicle system on construction sites;
Integrate structural steelwork solutions that seamlessly accommodate safety net installations;

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The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations [CDM] 2015

Devise structural designs that inherently facilitate fire containment measures during and after construction;
Employ construction methods and materials that proactively mitigate adverse environmental effects throughout the project's lifespan.
CDM 2015 reinstates the emphasis on proactively preventing risks across all projects, shifting from merely mitigating on-site risks, through meticulous pre-construction planning and coordination.
At the heart of CDM 2015 lies the pivotal concept of continuous coordination throughout the entire project lifecycle (remember, a project encompasses much more than just a construction site), spanning from initial concept to project handover.

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https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/regulation/6/made
A project is notifiable if it:
Lasts longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project; or
Exceeds 500-person days
The client has the duty to notify a construction project. In practice however, the client may ask someone else to notify on their behalf.

Project Notification

Working day’ means any day on which construction work takes place. This includes weekends, and a full working day should be considered if work is only carried out for part of the day.
Projects with domestic clients now need to notify HSE if one of the two thresholds above have been met. This was not the case under CDM 2007.

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Project Notification

The main contractor has a duty before any major construction work commences on site to inform the HSE through a document called an F10.
An F10 has to contain information on the following:
Address of the site
Details of local authority
A description of the project

Details of the start date, duration, number of operatives working, number of contractors on site
Details of principal designer, principal contractor, client, designer, and contractors
Signed and dated declaration

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Project Notification – Railway & Nuclear Site

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/regulation/6/made
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), now Office of Rail and Road (ORR), must be notified instead of the HSE for railway construction projects.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) must be notified instead of HSE for construction projects planned on British nuclear sites or a new nuclear build site.

Minimum welfare facilities required for construction sites
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/schedule/2/made

Check Understanding of the project length test: https://kahoot.it/

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Explain the client responsibilities and at least any other two members of a construction project:

• Client (regulations 4 & 5)

• Designer (regulation 9)

• Principal designer (regulations 11 & 12)

• Principal contractor (regulations 12 - 14)

• Contractor (regulation 15)

Self-assessment

Task

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Construction Phase Plan, and Health & Safety File

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CONSTRUCTION PHASE PLAN

A Construction Phase Plan (CPP) is a health and safety management document that outlines how construction work will be carried out safely, addressing the risks associated with the construction phase of a project.
The CPP is drawn up during the pre-construction phase.
It is a legal requirement on notifiable projects.
CPP must set out health and safety arrangements and construction site rules.
CDM Regulations 2015 (Regulation 12) ensures that the client ensures that a construction phase plan is drawn up by the contractor/principal contractor, or plan for a CPP to be drawn up.

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CONSTRUCTION PHASE PLAN

It is a fully functional working document which should be:
Reviewed and updated as the project develops.
Amended when further design work is completed.
Updated when information from subcontractors starting work becomes available.
Reviewed considering unforeseen circumstances or variations to planned circumstances.
Updated when any other changes affecting health and safety arise.

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CONSTRUCTION PHASE PLAN - TEMPLATES

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HEALTH AND SAFETY FILE

A Health and Safety File (HSF) is a compilation of health and safety information about a construction project that provides guidance for those involved in the maintenance, use, alteration, or demolition of a structure.
The Health and Safety File is a crucial document that contributes to the long-term safety, maintenance, and success of a construction project.
It ensures that essential health and safety information is accessible and usable by relevant stakeholders throughout the life cycle of the structure.
The health and safety file is drawn up during the pre-construction phase.
CDM Regulations 2015 (Regulation 4)

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HEALTH �AND �SAFETY FILE

The clients, designers, principal designers, contractors and principal contractors all have legal duties in respect of the health and safety file:

Principal designer must prepare, review, amend or add to the file as the project progresses, and give it to the client at the end of the project;

Clients, designers, principal designers, contractors, and principal contractors must supply the information necessary for compiling or updating the file;

Clients must keep the file to assist with future construction work; and

Everyone providing information should make sure that it is accurate and provided promptly.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY FILE - TEMPLATES

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GROUP-ASSESSMENT TASK

You are part of the project team for a medium‑sized teaching block on a UK university campus. The project is notifiable, and CDM 2015 applies throughout. You are asked to advise the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor on how construction information will be recorded, maintained and shared, focusing on:

the Construction Phase Plan during construction
the Health and Safety File at handover and into occupation

HINT:

Construction Phase Plan – information recording and sharing

Explain the purpose of the CPP in CDM 2015
Identify the main duty‑holder(s) responsible for preparing, updating and implementing the CPP
Describe types of information to be included and updated
Explain how this information is recorded (e.g. documents, drawings, method statements, risk assessments, digital platforms) and how updates are controlled (version control, sign‑off).
Discuss how the CPP information is shared with:

workers and subcontractors (inductions, briefings, notices)
client and Principal Designer (formal communication, meetings)
visitors and other affected parties.

Health and Safety File – information recording and sharing

Explain the purpose of the H&S File
Identify who is responsible for preparing, updating and handing over the file
Describe key contents
Explain how this information is gathered during construction (from designers, specialist subcontractors, commissioning engineers, testing and inspection records).
Discuss how the H&S File is delivered to the client (format, digital vs paper, integration with O&M manuals and asset management systems).
Explain how the client should maintain and share the file during the building’s life (updates after alterations, access for FM teams and future contractors).

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