CONSTRUCTION (DESIGN & MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS

Objective - To create an all-party integrated and planned approach to health and safety throughout the duration of a construction project.

Administering Body - The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Scope - The CDM Regulations are intended to embrace all aspects of construction, with the exception of very minor works.

Responsibilities - The CDM Regulations apportion responsibility to everyone involved in a project to cooperate with others and for health and safety issues to all parties involved in the construction process, i.e. client, designer, project coordinator and principal contractor.

Client - Appoints a project coordinator and the principal contractor. Provides the project coordinator with information on health and safety matters and ensures that the principal contractor has prepared an acceptable construction phase plan for the conduct of work. Ensures adequate provision for welfare and that a health and safety file is available.

Designer - Establishes that the client is aware of their duties. Considers the design implications with regard to health and safety issues, including an assessment of any perceived risks. Coordinates the work of the project coordinator and other members of the design team.

Project Coordinator - Ensures that:

* a pre-tender, construction phase plan is prepared.
* the HSE are informed of the work.
* designers are liaising and conforming with their health and safety obligations.
* a health and safety file is prepared.
* contractors are of adequate competence with regard to health and safety matters and advises the client and principal contractor accordingly.

Principal Contractor - Develops a construction phase plan, collates relevant information and maintains it as the work proceeds. Administers day-to-day health and safety issues. Co- operates with the project coordinator, designers and site operatives preparing risk assessments as required.

Note: The CDM Regulations include requirements defined under The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.

Health and Safety---Signs and Symbols

Under these regulations, employers are required to provide and maintain health and safety signs conforming to European Directive 92/58 EEC:

In addition, employers obligations include the need to provide:

Risk Assessment - provide and maintain safety signs where there is a risk to health and safety, e.g. obstacles. Train staff to comprehend safety signs.

Pictorial Symbols - pictograms alone are acceptable but supplementary text, e.g. FIRE EXIT, is recommended. Fire/Emergency Escape Signs † A green square or rectangular symbol.

Positioning of signs - primarily for location of fire exits, fire equipment, alarms, assembly points, etc. Not to be located where they could be obscured.

Marking of Hazardous Areas - to identify designated areas for storing dangerous substances: Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990. Yellow triangular symbol.

Pipeline Identification - pipes conveying dangerous substances to be labelled with a pictogram on a coloured background conforming to BS 1710: Specification for identity of pipelines and services and BS 4800: Schedule of paint colours for building purposes. Non-dangerous substances should also be labelled for easy identification.

Typical Examples on Building Sites