CDM 2007 contractors
For information about the role of contractors under the 2015 CDM regulations see CDM 2015 contractors.
The text below relates to the superseded 2007 CDM regulations and is provided as a historical reference.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (or 'CDM Regulations') are intended to ensure that health and safety issues are properly considered during a project’s development so the risk of harm to those who have to build, use and maintain structures is reduced.
They were introduced in 1994 and came into force on 31 March 1995. They were substantially revised in 2007.
The regulations impose duties on:
- The client.
- Designers.
- The CDM co-ordinator.
- The principal contractor.
- Contractors.
- Workers.
The regulations define construction work as '...the carrying out of any building, civil engineering or engineering construction work'.
The regulations define contractors as '...any person (including a client, principal contractor or other person referred to in these Regulations) who, in the course or furtherance of a business, carries out or manages construction work'. This is as opposed to the 'principal contractor' whose role is to plan, manage and co-ordinate health and safety during construction.
The duties of contractors include:
- Ensuring the client is aware of their duties under the regulations.
- Planning, managing and monitoring their own work and that of their workers so that as far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health and safety.
- Ensuring that sub-contractors are informed of the minimum amount of time that will be allowed for planning and preparation (the CDM planning period).
- Providing appropriate site inductions, information and training for their workers.
- Preventing access by unauthorised persons.
- Ensuring that adequate welfare facilities are provided.
Where projects are notifiable under the regulations (projects which last more than 30 days or involve more than 500 person-days of construction work), the contractor must also:
- Ensure that a CDM co-ordinator and principal contractor have been appointed.
- Have access to the construction phase plan.
- Ensure that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been notified before work starts.
- Co-operate with the principal contractor in planning and managing work.
- Provide information necessary for the health and safety file.
- Comply with site rules and the construction phase plan and take appropriate action to ensure health and safety where it is not possible to comply with the construction phase plan.
- Provide the principal contractor with details to of any sub-contractors.
- Provide information needed for the health and safety file.
- Inform the principal contractor of any changes needed to the construction phase plan.
- Inform the principal contractor of reportable incidents or accidents.
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