How do I know if I need a CDMC?
The client must appoint a Construction Design Management Coordinator (CDMC) on notifiable projects, which are projects likely to involve more than 30 days or 500 man days of construction work. A project is not only the construction work, but also includes all the planning, design, and management or other work until the end of the construction phase. The CDMC must be appointed as soon as possible and no later than after initial design work is completed. ‘Initial design work’ includes feasibility studies and any work necessary to identify the client requirements or possible constraints on the development.
What will a CDMC do?
The CDMC must give notice to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as soon as practicable after their appointment regarding the project. An appointed CDM Coordinator is required to undertake the following actions:
1. Advice and assistance – give advice and assistance to the client on what he needs to do to comply with CDM 2007.
2. Co-ordination and co-operation – ensure that arrangements are in place for co-ordination and co-operation during the planning and preparation phase; facilitate good communication between client, designers and contractors
3. Pre construction information – identify and collect the pre construction information and prepare/update a Health and Safety file
4. Designer compliance – take steps to ensure that designers comply with their CDM duties and liaise with the Principal Contractor regarding ongoing design.
Advice and assistance
• assessment of designer and contractor competence;
• adequacy of client management arrangements for the project and the management arrangements of contractors;
• maintenance and review of such arrangements throughout the project;
• adequacy of the principal contractor construction phase plan; and
• adequacy of the welfare facilities.
Co-ordination and co-operation
The duty of a CDMC is to ensure arrangements are made and implemented for the co-ordination of health and safety measures during planning and preparation for the construction phase, including the facilitation of:
• co-operation and co-ordination between the project team; and
• application of the general principles of prevention by all involved
Pre construction information
The CDMC must take steps to identify and collect the pre-construction information (PCI), which will consist of all the information that is relevant to the health and safety of those engaged in, affected by the work or using the structure as a future workplace.
The relevant parts must be promptly provided, in a convenient form, to every:
• person designing the structure;
• the principal contractor; and
• any other contractor who has or may be appointed by the client.
Designer compliance
The CDMC must take all reasonable steps to ensure that designers comply with their CDM duties. In particular the co-ordinator must make sure that designers have in place arrangements to avoid foreseeable risk in preparing designs, including arrangements for:
• eliminating hazards giving rise to risks;
• reducing risk from any remaining hazards; and
• providing information on residual risks.
If a client does not appoint a CDMC, then become legally liable for the work that the CDMC and Principal Contractor should do, as well as for not making the appointments.
Using a construction phase plan
Notifiable projects must have a plan that has been prepared by the principal contractor before the construction work begins. With the help of the CDMC, clients must ensure that the plan is project specific and suitable for implementation. Once the construction phase has started it is the principal contractors responsibility to check that the plan is updated.
Compiling a Health and Safety File
A health and safety file is required for notifiable projects, providing a source of information that will help to reduce the risks and costs involved in future construction work. Clients must ensure that the file is kept up to date and available for inspection as required. The information and records in the file must be passed on to anyone preparing or carrying out work to which CDMC applies. At the end of the construction phase, the file must be finalised and given to the client by the CDMC.