Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

Asbestos in construction

2012-03-13T06:50:17Z

Christina Wallace:

All types of asbestos can kill.

Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in 1999, but it remains the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. The time between exposure and disease varies widely. 20 tradespeople die each week from asbestos related disease. Refurbishment, alteration and demolition projects are affected by asbestos in buildings. Material condition and type are key factors in the danger presented.

This is simply a brief overview for work with asbestos containing materials. Professional advice is essential in relation to asbestos.

You MUST have an appropriate survey and removal (if required) carried out by a competent surveyor or contractor. Allow sufficient time and resources for this work.

It is important that a full brief is provided for the survey in accordance with [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg264.htm Asbestos: The survey guide HSG264]. The surveyor must be made fully aware of work to be carried out and where access for construction is required. A survey may require access behind asbestos containing materials and therefore a contractor may be needed on site. Note that sample analysis and report production take time and resources, but a careful, proper, full survey will save time and cost on site and is a wise investment.

Asbestos is categorised as licensable or non-licensable in the UK (changes are planned to introduce a third category in April 2012). Contractors for licensable asbestos removal are held on a list by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Some asbestos containing materials are non-licensable such as asbestos cement panels and matrix bound asbestos toilet cisterns. These may be removed by non-licence holders but the work must be carried out in accordance with HSE requirements by suitably trained personnel for the work (training for work with non-notifies blue asbestos, not to be confused with asbestos awareness training). All asbestos containing materials and asbestos contaminated waste must be disposed of to an Environment Agency licensed asbestos landfill site, carried by vehicles marked with hazardous waste signage

Asbestos removal is covered by specific regulations with a strict 14-day notification period to the HSE before works can take place. If additional asbestos is found on site, unless there is strong case for a waiver (only granted for cases of imminent risk, for example, where the asbestos was not foreseeable and substantial financial loss would occur), method statements and notification periods are again required by the HSE. A waiver is not taken lightly and the best approach is to ensure that a good quality survey is undertaken prior to the commencement of works on site.

The removal of asbestos is undertaken under very controlled conditions. There are exceptions, where asbestos is in a bound matrix (asbestos cement panels) and in a good condition (in accordance with proposed changes in the asbestos regulations for April 2012 where an additional class of notifiable non-licensable asbestos is proposed).

Asbestos removal is a specialised function. Proper decontamination facilities are needed for the workforce and a dedicated transit route must be provided to an enclosure kept under negative pressure. Airlocks need to be in place at the enclosure for air movement control and to permit those working to carry out preliminary decontamination procedures. Asbestos waste must be double bagged in labelled asbestos bags and properly stored in lockable skips on the transit route.

A rigorous, independent analyst inspection regime is in place providing a four stage clearance certification for removal of asbestos containing materials from site. This includes a four stage clearance process with air monitoring within enclosures prior to dismantling the enclosure and visual inspection on completion of the work.

--[[User:Christina Wallace|Christina Wallace]] 06:50, 13 March 2012 (GMT)

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= See also =

*Information from the [http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/ Health and Safety Executive].
*[http://www.arca.org.uk/ Asbestos Removal Contractors Association].
*[http://webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/connect.ti/asbestos.licensing/view?objectId=7076&expa=exp&expf=7076&expl=1 List of license holder asbestos removal contractors].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/2739/contents/made Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006].
*HSE, [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg247.htm Asbestos: The Licensed Contractors Guide HSG247]
*HSE, [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg227.htm A comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises HSG227].
*HSE, [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l143.htm Work with materials containing asbestos ACoP for the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 L143]
*HSE, [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg264.htm Asbestos: The survey guide HSG264]
*Asbestos is the subject of the Health and Safety Executive’s [http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm Hidden Killer campaign].

[[Category:Construction_management]]
[[Category:Other_legislation]]

Demolition

2012-03-13T06:43:39Z

Christina Wallace:

Demolition is the most high risk activity in the construction sector.

The essence of safe demolition lies in efficient risk control, environmental management and careful planning. The CDM Regulations have provided a platform from which the industry exhibits best practice, demanding written plans of work for demolition even where a project is not notifiable.

Clients and their professional advisors play a vital role in safe demolition and must:

*Allow sufficient time for planning the works.
*Procure an appropriate contractor (carry out safety and environmental audits).
*Provide sufficient information to a good standard.

The level and detail of pre-demolition information and surveys required are proportionate to the project and include:

*Asbestos demolition survey (to [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg264.htm HSG264] standard).
*Utility information (showing disconnection locations if previously carried out).
*Structural hazards and risks (including relevant information such as condition, modifications, materials etc).
*Hazardous material information and health hazards.
*Planning permissions. Demolition requires prior notification to be submitted to the local authority for determination on whether prior approval is required of the method of demolition where buildings are over 50 cubic metres and for walls or gates. Where demolition works may have an environmental impact, a screening opinion is required from the local authority on whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is necssary. Conservation area consent is required for demolition of a building over 115 cubic metres, and listed building consent is required for any part of a listed building.
*Building regulations. Where demolition work is proposed, the owner must give the local authority building control department six weeks notice under Section 80 of [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/55 the Building Act].
*Party Wall etc. Act notices.
*Desk studies indicating historic use of building and land, contamination, mineshafts and wells.
*Constraints to demolition imposed by the client or by the site conditions.
*Site finish required.
*Pre-construction information (CDM regulation 10).

General demolition procedures include:

*Effective building security and maintenance prior to demolition.
*Isolation of utilities and removal of meters.
*Intrusive pre-demolition surveys (such as; asbestos survey for demolition, structural survey, hazardous materials surveys etc).
*Disconnection of utilities.
*Site compound set-up.
*Asbestos removal (in accordance with the [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/2739/contents/made Control of Asbestos Regulations]).
*Soft strip (taking the structure back to construction materials including the removal of windows and door frames).
*Superstructure demolition with special measures as constraints demand, such as debuild or protection of adjacent structures.
*Processing of superstructure arisings.
*Slab and foundation demolition.
*Processing of arisings.
*Site finishes as required including provision for the future security of the site.

Demolition methods include:

*Explosive demolition. This requires extensive use of the police to enforce exclusion zones as well as pre and post demolition structural inspections for a substantial radius (in the order of quarter or half a mile). Recent developments in high-reach machinery mean that buildings less than 22 storeys are generally demolished by machine.
*Hand demolition. These methods are required when demolition has to be carried out in a more sensitive manner due to site constraints such as; proximity to uncapped mineshafts, overhead utilities, pedestrian access or adjacent structures, or structural instability.
*Machine demolition. This is by far the most frequently used method and reduces the need for people to work at height, for manual handling and is an effective risk control for the demolition industry.

Buildings handed over for demolition generally contain hazardous waste, rubbish for landfill and recyclable material. Best practice use of site waste management plans for all demolition projects assists in ensuring the optimum recycling chains are in place. Clients can assist by handing over empty buildings and finding new uses for all furniture and equipment in a building before handing it to the contractor for demolition.

Demolition produces products suitable for construction with the general rule that a recycled material can be considered a grade lower than its original state. So crushed structural concrete for example may be used as blinding, though with full treatment and a designed mix, it may be possible to achieve structural grade concrete. At present, it is practical for a competent contractor to achieve 95% building recycling by mass, or even more for some structures.

Materials should be provided to [http://aggregain.wrap.org.uk/quality/quality_protocols/ WRAP protocols] with Environment Agency certification. It is practical to crush on site for volumes in excess of 3000 cubic metres.

--[[User:Christina Wallace|Christina Wallace]] 06:43, 13 March 2012 (GMT)

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= See also =

*[http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000019999197 Code of practice for demolition BS6187:2000].
*[http://www.demolitionengineers.net/ide/ Institute of Demolition Engineers].
*[http://www.demolition-nfdc.com/Client_Guide.php National Federation of Demolition Contractors Client guide].
*[http://aggregain.wrap.org.uk/quality/quality_protocols/ WRAP quality protocols].

[[Category:Construction_management]]

Demolition

2012-03-13T06:41:33Z

Christina Wallace:

Demolition is the most high risk activity in the construction sector.

The essence of safe demolition lies in efficient risk control, environmental management and careful planning. The CDM Regulations have provided a platform from which the industry exhibits best practice, demanding written plans of work for demolition even where a project is not notifiable.

Clients and their professional advisors play a vital role in safe demolition and must:

*Allow sufficient time for planning the works.
*Procure an appropriate contractor (carry out safety and environmental audits).
*Provide sufficient information to a good standard.

The level and detail of pre-demolition information and surveys required are proportionate to the project and include:

*Asbestos demolition survey (to [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg264.htm HSG264] standard).
*Utility information (showing disconnection locations if previously carried out).
*Structural hazards and risks (including relevant information such as condition, modifications, materials etc).
*Hazardous material information and health hazards.
*Planning permissions. Demolition requires prior notification to be submitted to the local authority for determination on whether prior approval is required of the method of demolition where buildings are over 50 cubic metres and for walls or gates. Where demolition works may have an environmental impact, a screening opinion is required from the local authority on whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is necssary. Conservation area consent is required for demolition of a building over 115 cubic metres, and listed building consent is required for any part of a listed building.
*Building regulations. Where demolition work is proposed, the owner must give the local authority building control department six weeks notice under Section 80 of [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/55 the Building Act].
*Party Wall etc. Act notices.
*Desk studies indicating historic use of building and land, contamination, mineshafts and wells.
*Constraints to demolition imposed by the client or by the site conditions.
*Site finish required.
*Pre-construction information (CDM regulation 10).

General demolition procedures include:

*Effective building security and maintenance prior to demolition.
*Isolation of utilities and removal of meters.
*Intrusive pre-demolition surveys (such as; asbestos survey for demolition, structural survey, hazardous materials surveys etc).
*Disconnection of utilities.
*Site compound set-up.
*Asbestos removal (in accordance with the [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/2739/contents/made Control of Asbestos Regulations]).
*Soft strip (taking the structure back to construction materials including the removal of windows and door frames).
*Superstructure demolition with special measures as constraints demand, such as debuild or protection of adjacent structures.
*Processing of superstructure arisings.
*Slab and foundation demolition.
*Processing of arisings.
*Site finishes as required including provision for the future security of the site.

Demolition methods include:

*Explosive demolition. This requires extensive use of the police to enforce exclusion zones as well as pre and post demolition structural inspections for a substantial radius (in the order of quarter or half a mile). Recent developments in high-reach machinery mean that buildings less than 22 storeys are generally demolished by machine.
*Hand demolition. These methods are required when demolition has to be carried out in a more sensitive manner due to site constraints such as; proximity to uncapped mineshafts, overhead utilities, pedestrian access or adjacent structures, or structural instability.
*Machine demolition. This is by far the most frequently used method and reduces the need for people to work at height, for manual handling and is an effective risk control for the demolition industry.

Buildings handed over for demolition generally contain hazardous waste, rubbish for landfill and recyclable material. Best practice use of site waste management plans for all demolition projects assists in ensuring the optimum recycling chains are in place. Clients can assist by handing over empty buildings and finding new uses for all furniture and equipment in a building before handing it to the contractor for demolition.

Demolition produces products suitable for construction with the general rule that a recycled material can be considered a grade lower than its original state. So crushed structural concrete for example may be used as blinding, though with full treatment and a designed mix, it may be possible to achieve structural grade concrete. At present, it is practical for a competent contractor to achieve 95% building recycling by mass, or even more for some structures.

Materials should be provided to [http://aggregain.wrap.org.uk/quality/quality_protocols/ WRAP protocols] with Environment Agency certification. It is practical to crush on site for volumes in excess of 3000 cubic metres.

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= See also =

*[http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000019999197 Code of practice for demolition BS6187:2000].
*[http://www.demolitionengineers.net/ide/ Institute of Demolition Engineers].
*[http://www.demolition-nfdc.com/Client_Guide.php National Federation of Demolition Contractors Client guide].
*[http://aggregain.wrap.org.uk/quality/quality_protocols/ WRAP quality protocols].

[[Category:Construction_management]]

Health and safety for building design and construction

2012-03-10T17:51:03Z

Christina Wallace:

Buildings can present a great number of possible risks both in construction and operation. There are many duties placed on those commissioning, designing, constructing and operating buildings to control those risks.

The legislation affecting health and safety in design and construction falls under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act through regulations that include:

*The [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/contents/made Construction (Design and Management) Regulations].
*The Building Regulations.
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/735/contents/made The Work at Height Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2307/contents/made The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/2209/contents/made The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/contents/made The Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1656/contents/made The Work in Compressed Air Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2306/contents/made The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/contents/made The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2677/contents/made The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations] (COSHH).
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2793/contents/made The Manual Handling Operations Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1643/contents/made The Control of Noise at Work Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1093/contents/made The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/2739/contents/made The Control of Asbestos Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1513/contents/made Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/3163/contents/made Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations].

A full list is available in the appendices of [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg150.htm HSE Health and safety in construction], although some of the regulations listed in the publication have since been revoked following revisions to the The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations in 2007 (the revoked legislation is listed in the appendices of the [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l144.htm Approved Code of Practice. Managing health and safety in construction]).

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM regulations) in particular are intended to ensure that health and safety issues are properly considered during a project’s development. They include general requirements that apply to all projects and additional duties that only apply to notifiable construction projects, i.e. those lasting more that 30 days or involving more than 500 person days of construction work.

The CDM regulations impose duties on:

*The client.
*Designers.
*CDM co-ordinator.
*Principal contractor.
*Contractors.
*Workers.

Many additional requirements are placed on the design of buildings by the Building Regulations (such as; part A: structural safety part B: fire safety, part K: protection from falling, part N: glazing safety, part P: electrical safety etc.)

For additional information see articles on CDM and Building Regulations.

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= See also =

*CDM.
*Notification to HSE.
*Health and safety file.
*Pre-construction information.
*CDM co-ordinator.
*Principal contractor.
*Building regulations.
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/index.htm COHME Construction occupational health management essentials (COHME)].
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm See HSE guidance on health and safety in construction].
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm See HSE guidance on CDM Regulations].
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg150.htm HSE Health and safety in construction.]
*HSE [http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/resources/guidance.htm Construction Guidance resources].
*Very detailed guidance on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. (CDM) is available in the [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l144.htm Approved Code of Practice. Managing health and safety in construction].
*[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100503135839/http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/CP0070AEGuide10.pdf OGC Achieving Excellence Guide 10 - Through Health and Safety].

= =

[[Category:Construction_management]]
[[Category:Regulations]]
[[Category:Other_legislation]]

Notifiable project F10 form

2012-03-10T17:46:05Z

Christina Wallace:

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM regulations) require that any project (defined as construction under the regulations) that is likely to last longer than 30 days or involve more than 500 person days of construction work must be notified to the Health and Safety Executive. This can be done using an [https://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/notification/index.htm F10 form].

Regulation 21 of the CDM regulations requires that the CDM co-ordinator gives notice to the Health and Safety Executive, as soon as is practicable after their appointment, of the details included in [http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/schedule1.htm schedule 1] of the CDM regulations:

*''Date of forwarding.''
*''Exact address of the construction site.''
*''The name of the local authority where the site is located.''
*''A brief description of the project and the construction work which it includes.''
*''Contact details of the client (name, address, telephone number and any e-mail address).''
*''Contact details of the CDM co-ordinator (name, address, telephone number and any e-mail address).''
*''Contact details of the principal contractor (name, address, telephone number and any e-mail address).''
*''Date planned for the start of the construction phase.''
*''The time allowed by the client to the principal contractor referred to in regulation 15(b) for planning and preparation for construction work.''
*''Planned duration of the construction phase.''
*''Estimated maximum number of people at work on the construction site.''
*''Planned number of contractors on the construction site.''
*''Name and address of any contractor already appointed.''
*''Name and address of any designer already engaged.''
*''A declaration signed by or on behalf of the client that he is aware of his duties under these Regulations''.

List extracted from [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/schedule/1/made schedule 1] of the CDM regulations.

Where details are not available (such as the details of the principal contractor) they must be provided when they are available, and in any event, before construction works begin.

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= See also =

*CDM co-ordinator.
*Principal contractor.
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/f10form.htm HSE How to notify a project].
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/schedule1.htm Schedule 1 of the CDM regulations.]

[[Category:Roles_/_services]]
[[Category:Construction_management]]
[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]]

Method statement for construction

2012-03-10T17:44:30Z

Christina Wallace:

Method statements are widely used in construction as a means of controlling specific health and safety risks that have been identified (perhaps following the preparation of a risk assessment) such as; lifting operations, demolition or dismantling, working at height (such as work on roofs), installing equipment, and the use of plant.

A method statement helps manage the work and and ensures that the necessary precautions have been communicated to those involved.

The process of preparing a written method statement provides evidence that:

#Significant health and safety risks have been identified.
#Co-operation of workers has been ensured.
#Safe, co-ordinated systems of work have been put in place.
#Workers have been involved in the process.

Like risk assessments, method statements are not a requirement of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, however they are identified by the Health and Safety Executive as one way of satisfying the requirements of the regulations and as an effective means of assessing risks, managing risks, collecting workers’ views and briefing workers. The fact that method statements are not a requirement of the CDM Regulations is evidence of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) intention that implementation of the requirements of the CDM Regulations should not be a paper exercise, where the filling out of a standard template is sufficient, but that it should be an integral and fundamental part of the construction process.

It is worth noting that the exception to the above a demand in CDM Regulations 5 and 6 that there is a written plan of work for higher risk activities (even where a project is not notifiable) and with a list of specific high risk activities such as demolition, structural alterations and excavations that are deep, in unstable or contaminated ground.

Where they are prepared, method statements need be no longer than is necessary for them to be effective. They are for the benefit of those carrying out the work and so should be clear, should not be overcomplicated and should be illustrated where necessary.

Method statements should be written by a competent person who is familiar with the process being described and may need to be agreed between the client, principal contractor and contractor. The HSE suggests that those preparing method statements should consider:

*''Is there a safer way of doing this task?''
*''Will workers actually implement the controls as planned?''
*''Do these controls make the job difficult or inconvenient?''
*''Are there small changes that will improve the intended method?''
*''How will these controls work in adverse conditions, e.g. weather?''
*''Will workers require additional briefing or instructions?''

ref [http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/assets/downloads/engaging-workers-in-risk-assessment.pdf HSE Engaging your workers in risk management].

The contents of a method statement will vary with the work process being described however, they may contain:

*Details of the organisation in control of the activity.
*Details of the individual responsible for the activity.
*A description of the activity.
*A description of how the work will be managed.
*The location of the activity, its boundaries, means of access and how it is segregated from other activities.
*Plant and equipment required.
*The procedure for changing the proposed method of work if necessary.
*A step by step description of the activities to be undertaken.
*Precautions necessary to protect workers, and other people that could be affected, including personal protective equipment and ventilation requirements.
*Training procedures.
*The need for specially-trained operators for certain activities.
*Emergency procedures, including the location of emergency equipment.
*The handling and storage of materials and pollution prevention procedures.
*Temporary works designs.
*The method for safeguarding existing structures.

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= See also =

*Risk assessment.
*CDM.
*Health and safety.
*HSE: [http://books.hse.gov.uk/hse/public/saleproduct.jsf?catalogueCode=9780717662234 Managing health and safety in construction].
*HSE: [http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/admin.htm#method Administration]
*HSE: [http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/assess.htm Assessing all work at height].
*[http://host.safetyservicesdirect.com/what%20is%20a%20method%20statement.pdf Safety Services Direct: Method statements]

[[Category:Construction_management]]
[[Category:Construction_management]]
[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]]
[[Category:Other_legislation]]

Risk management for building design

2012-03-10T17:37:37Z

Christina Wallace:

The process of design risk management is a requirement of the [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/contents/made Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007] (CDM).

The key aim of the CDM Regulations... ...''is to integrate health and safety into the management of the project and to encourage everyone involved to work together to:''

*''improve the planning and management of projects from the very start;''
*''identify hazards early on, so they can be eliminated or reduced at the design or planning stage and the remaining risks can be properly managed;''
*''target effort where it can do the most good in terms of health and safety; and''
*''discourage unnecessary bureaucracy.''

ref [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l144.htm The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. (CDM) Approved Code of Practice. Managing health and safety in construction].

[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/regulation/11/made Regulation 11 of the CDM Regulations] requires that as the design progresses, risks are identified and eliminated and residual risks are reduced. This should be an integral part of the design process should not be a process of simply preparing risk assessments once the design is complete. Risk assessment in itself is not a requirement of the CDM regulations.

The consideration of risk, its control and the communication of residual risk should not be a bureaucratic exercise. It is essential to focus on the identification, elimination and management of risks which may relate not only to the construction of the works but also to temporary works and to the operation, maintenance, cleaning, alteration or demolition of the completed development and to inherent risks in the site or its surroundings.

Information produced as a consequence of design risk management should be included in tender documents so that contractors (or other designers) can take them into account when pricing their tenders and planning their work. Ultimately, it may, where relevant, be included in the health and safety file. However, as the CDM regulations require that designers and contractors are competent persons, information about risks need only be provided in relation to unusual risks or risks that are difficult to effectively manage.

The effective communication of residual risks is key.

Under the CDM Regulations, the CDM co-ordinator is required to work with designers on design risk management to:

*Co-ordinate health and safety aspects of design work.
*Advise on the suitability, co-ordination and compatibility of designs.
*Facilitate good communication between the client, designers and contractors.
*Assess proposed changes.
*Prepare or compile the health and safety file.

This process may involve attending design team meetings and design reviews.

It is generally accepted that as well as complying with regulations and reducing the incidence of accidents, design risk management also improves quality and reduces the costs of the development.

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= See also =

*CDM.
*Risk assessment.
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/contents/made The CDM Regulations in full].
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/regulation/11/made Regulation 11 of the CDM Regulations].
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/faq/designers.htm Health and safety executive guidance on obligations of designers.]
*[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100503135839/http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/CP0064AEGuide4.pdf See OGC guide to Construction Excellence: Risk and Value Management.]
*[http://www.ribapublishing.com/publications/designGuidance/DesignRiskMan.asp Association for Project Safety: Design Risk Management.][http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations]
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l21.htm Management of Health and Safety at Work Approved Code of practice]
*[http://www.safetyindesign.org.uk/ Safety in design.]

[[Category:Design]]
[[Category:Design]]
[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]]

CDM co-ordinator

2012-03-10T17:14:19Z

Christina Wallace:

The [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/contents/made Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007] (CDM Regulations) require that a CDM co-ordinator is appointed on projects that last more than 30 days or involve 500 person-days of construction work. A project should not progress beyond 'preliminary design' without the appointment of a CDM co-ordinator. Concept design is considered to be beyond 'preliminary design' and may therefore require the appointment of a CDM co-ordinator.

The CDM co-ordinator's role is to advise the client on matters relating to health and safety during the design process and during the planning phases of construction.

The CDM co-ordinator is expected to:

*Notify the Health and Safety Executive of the particulars specified in schedule 1 of the regulations using Form F10. A project is notifiable if it is likely to last longer than 30 days or involve more than 500 person-days of construction work.
*Advise the client as to the adequacy of resources.
*Co-ordinate health and safety aspects of design work and co-operate with others involved with the project.
*Facilitate good communication between the client, designers and contractors.
*Provide, or ensure that the client provides relevant pre-construction information as defined in [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/regulation/10/made Regulation 10].
*Advise on the suitability, co-ordination and compatibility of designs in relation to health and safety.
*Advise on the adequacy of the construction phase plan before construction works begin
*Advise on the adequacy of any subsequent changes to the construction phase plan.
*Liaise with the principal contractor regarding any ongoing design work during construction.
*Prepare or compile the health and safety file and issue the health and safety file to the client at the end of the construction phase.

On design and build, prime contract or private finance initiative (PFI) projects, the client may, if required, appoint a CDM co-ordinator in the early stages of the project before a contractor (or integrated supply team in the public sector) has been appointed. This role may then be transferred to the contractor (or integrated supply team) once contracted.

While a CDM co-ordinator is not required on non-notifiable projects so long as co-ordination and co-operation (regulations 5 and 6) can be assured. Higher risk projects such as demolition require a more rigorous approach with proportionate controls in place.

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= See also =

*CDM.
*Principal contractor.
*Design risk management.
*Notify HSE (Form F10).
*Pre-construction information.
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/responsibilities.htm Health and safety executive guidance on responsibilities.]
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/regulation/20/made Regulation 20, general duties of the CDM co-ordinator.]
*[[HSE http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm|Health and safety executive description of when a CDM co-ordinator must be appointed.]]
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/regulation/10/made Regulation 10, describing what must be included in pre construction information.]
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/contents/made The regulations in full].

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CDM 2007 Health and safety file

2012-03-10T17:08:24Z

Christina Wallace:

[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/regulation/20/made The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations] (CDM regulations) require that the CDM co-ordinator '...''prepare, where none exists, and otherwise review and update a record (“the health and safety file”) containing information relating to the project which is likely to be needed during any subsequent construction work to ensure the health and safety of any person, including the information provided in pursuance of regulations 17(1), 18(2) and 22(1)(j).''', and that at the end of the construction phase, they pass the health and safety file to the client.

The health and safety file need only include information important to enable future construction work including cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment, alterations and eventual demolition safety. If it contains all information about the building then genuinely important safety issues may simply be overlooked. It does not need to include information about the construction process (which may be included in the construction phase plan), unless it may affect future works. It does not need to include contractual information or information about the normal operation of the completed structure (which may be included in the building owners manual). (ref [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l144.pdf Managing health and safety in construction, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, Approved Code of Practice ]page 60).

The health and safety file may contain:

*A description of the project.
*A description of any residual hazards that should be managed.
*The structural principles of the design.
*Identification of any hazardous materials used.
*Procedures for the removal or dismantling of installed plant and equipment.
*Information about cleaning and maintenance equipment.
*A description of significant services and their location.
*Information and as-built drawings of the structure, plant and equipment.

The health and safety file must be kept up to date and is normally kept for the lifetime of the building, meaning that it should be passed on to the new owners if the building is sold, and the new owners should be informed of its purpose and importance.

There are no restrictions to the format that it has to be kept in, but it would be wise to ensure it is backed up. To be useful, the health and safety file has to be kept up to date.

If the building, or part of it are leased, then the health and safety file to must be made available to the leaseholder. If there are multiple leaseholders, then those parts of the health and safety file relevant to the part of the building leased by each leaseholder must be made available to them. In multi-occupancy situations, for example where a housing association owns a block of flats, the owner should keep and maintain the file, but ensure that individual flat occupiers are supplied with health and safety information concerning their home.

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= See also =

*CDM.
*Principal contractor.
*Notify HSE (Form F10).
*Regulation 10.
*Pre-construction information.
*CDM co-ordinator.
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/320/regulation/20/made Full copy of the CDM regulations.]
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l144.pdf Managing health and safety in construction, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, Approved Code of Practice.]

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