Saturday 17 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - Work Engagement

Worker engagement

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

How do the CDM Regulations encourage better worker engagement?

Regulation 24 places a duty on principal contractors to make and maintain arrangements to enable effective cooperation between all parties on site, and to consult with all workers on site. Consultation means not only giving information to workers, but also listening and taking account of what workers say, before making health and safety decisions. Part of the purpose of consultation is to make sure the measures taken on site to protect workers’ health and safety are effective.

Principal contractors are encouraged to develop a variety of methods of communication and consultation with the workforce to develop collaboration and trust. When matters of concern are raised by workers these should be actioned and feedback given. Evidence that this is happening provides assurance that effective worker engagement is in place.

Involving the workforce in identifying and controlling risks is crucial in preventing accidents. Whether projects are notifiable or not, contractors have a duty in regulation 13 to inform workers of their procedures for stopping work in the event of serious and imminent danger, and to provide training where necessary. This should make sure

workers are willing and able to intervene to prevent an accident sequence developing.

Source HSE

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Thursday 15 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - The plan and the file

The plan and the file

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

What is the difference between a construction phase plan and a health and safety file?

The construction phase plan is prepared by the principal contractor, for notifiable projects, to outline the arrangements for managing health and safety on site during construction work.

The health and safety file is prepared or revised by the CDM co-ordinator, for notifiable projects. It will require the CDM co-ordinator to liaise with the client, designers, principal contractor and contractors. The file will contain information necessary for future construction, maintenance, refurbishment or demolition to be carried out safely, and is retained by the client or any future owner of the property. (Where a client gets non-notifiable work done, and a health and safety file already exists for the premises, it should be updated if necessary.) The file should be a useful and valuable document for the client.

Source HSE

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CDM Regs FAQ - Duties of the Principal Contractor

What are the main duties of the principal contractor?

The main duties of the principal contractor are to:

  • plan, manage and monitor the construction phase to make sure, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health or safety
  • ensure adequate welfare facilities for those working on the site
  • draw up and implement the site rules as necessary
  • draw up and implement the construction phase health and safety plan
  • provide a suitable site induction and make sure those working on site have received the training they need to carry out the work safely and without risks to health
  • make sure the site is suitably fenced and prevent unauthorised people from entering the site
  • ensure co-operation between those working on the site, and that work is co-ordinated in such a way as to prevent danger
  • ensure suitable arrangements for effective consultation with the workforce
  • ensure the right health and safety information is provided to the right people at the right time

Source HSE

For more information on the Principal contractor click here

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Wednesday 14 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - information on HSE Notification / F10

FAQs relevant to both the electronic and manual F10 forms

When must I complete an F10 form?

You should complete an F10 form when you think you are undertaking a project that will last more than 30 days or involve more than 500 person days. This is a legal requirement under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. An F10 does not need to be filled in for domestic projects.

What information must I provide to HSE?

The exact information that you must provide to HSE is outlined in Schedule I of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2007. On both the E-Form and the manual F10 forms, the information you must provide is marked with an asterisk (*).

Source HSE

To read more information on Notification/F10 click here

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Tuesday 13 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - What are the CDM Regulations about?

What are the CDM Regulations about?

The CDM 2007 Regulations are about focusing attention on effective planning and management of construction projects, from design concept onwards. The aim is for health and safety considerations to be treated as a normal part of a project’s development, not an afterthought or bolt-on extra. The object of the CDM 2007 Regulations is to reduce the risk of harm to those that have to build, use, maintain and demolish structures.

Source HSE

To read more on this subject click here

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Monday 12 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - Who are Domestic Clients

Domestic clients

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

What is the definition of a domestic client?

The CDM Regulations 2007 define ‘client’ as a person who in the course or furtherance of a business seeks or accepts the services of someone to help carry out a project, or carries out a project themselves. Domestic clients are people who have work done to their own home or the home of a family member (which they live in or will live in), that does not relate to a trade or business, whether for profit or not. Local authorities, housing associations, charities, landlords and other businesses may own domestic property but they are not domestic clients.

Note: See separate questions for property developers and management companies.

It is the status of the person procuring the work that will determine if the Regulations apply, not the nature of the premises. For example, where alterations are carried out on a domestic house to improve disabled access, and that work is procured by a local authority, then the client will be the local authority and CDM client duties will apply, even though the work is being done in domestic premises for the benefit of the householder.

Source HSE

To read more about domestic clients click here

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Sunday 11 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - Designer

Designers

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

Am I a designer?

To be a designer you have to be in a trade, business, or undertaking that involves you in preparing designs. In the Regulations the term ’designer’ relates to the function performed, rather than the profession or job title. So, for a construction project there could be ’traditional’ designers, such as architects, structural engineers and civil engineers, a design and build contractor etc. Building services engineers/consultants and quantity surveyors etc are also designers. You will also be a designer if you prepare drawings, specifications and bills of quantities.

Source HSE For information on CDM Regs and who is a designer click here

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