If you are about to alter or extend a building, or structure, thinking of putting up a new one or demolishing an old one the the CDM Regulations will almost certainly apply to your project.

These regulations are about making sure that :

There is a realistic project programme which gives adequate time for planning and preparation as well as work itself.
Competent key people who have sufficient resources are appointed early.
There is early identification and reduction of risks.
Health and safety information is made available from the start of the design phase through construction and maintenance to eventual demolition, so that work can be done safely.
There is co-operation between duty holders and co-ordination of project work.
Efforts and resources are applied to managing health and safety which are proportionate to the risk and complexity of the project.

The Regulations help reduce accidents and ill health in the construction industry and can also help reduce costs of ownership of buildings and structures, improve communications between key players and reduce the effects that accidents can have on costs, delays and bad publicity. They will help the team complete a project on time and to budget and quality standards.

The Regulations make those who create the risks responsible for controlling them - so YOU MUST
Ensure that the project allows enough time for design, planning, preparation and construction work so that the entire project can be carried out safely and without risk to health.

Ensure that the Designers and Contractors are competent and adequately resourced to carry out their health and safety duties and only make this assessment yourself if you know enough to do so.

Make sure that any implications for public safety, for the Clients site or occupier’s own employees or customers are properly addressed,

Appoint a Planning Supervisor on or before the start of design work.

Take steps to identify hazards - including arranging for surveys or other investigations.

Provide the Planning Supervisor with this information soon enough for designers to be able to assess its implications for risk reduction.

Appoint a Principal Contractor.

Ensure that a suitable Health and Safety Plan has been produced by the Principal Contractor before construction work starts.

Ensure that the project Health and Safety File given to you at the end of the project is kept available for use and handed to any other new owner.

Ensure that there is a systematic and outline monitoring and review of the work to ensure that it is undertaken safely and without risk to health.

Make sure that revisions to designs, programmes of work or method statements are managed safely and without risk to health.

Most important of all you need to make sure that all these arrangements are written down and that all involved know who is to do what.

You can appoint an agent to deal with all these issues - provided that you notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that you are doing this. However you must make sure that the matters listed above are delt with. You can seek advice from the Planning Supervisor, Designer, or the HSE on how these Regulations affect you.

WHAT DOES A PLANNING SUPERVISOR HAVE TO DO ?
Make sure that the HSE are informed of the Project.
Ensure co-operation between Designers on health and safety issues.
Ensure that designers eliminate and reduce risks which their designers generate.
Make sure that a Pre - Construction Health & Safety Plan is prepared.
Advise you on various matters when asked to do so.
Make sure that an adequate Health & Safety File is handed to you at the end of the project.

The Planning Supervisor will, at an early stage, also prepare the Pre-Construction Health and Safety File and will give you advice on:
The competence and resources of any Designer you are considering appointing
The competence and resources of any Contractors that you are thinking of using to carry out or manage construction work.
The suitability of of the Construction Phase Health & Safety Plan prepared by the Principal Contractor.

WHEN DO YOU APPOINT THE PLANNING SUPERVISOR ?
The Planning Supervisor must be appointed before the start of design work. The Planning Supervisor also needs to be provided with risk information about sites and structures early enough for the designers to be able to take account of it in there designs. So, your early action can make a big difference to construction health and safety.