Guardian Risk Management Limited has experience in providing CDM Coordinator services to clients within the construction industry at competitive rates. We can help clients ensure that their duties under the regulations are fulfilled and that projects can be carried out effectively and safely by those involved. We can also carry out site safety inspections and provide assistance in producing risk assessments and method statements for specific tasks.
General Information
Anyone who is building or having construction work carried out has legal duties to fulfil under the new regulations unless they are domestic clients. Although a domestic client has no duties under the CDM, the construction workers they employ do have duties.
What will happen if I don’t comply with the CDM regulations?
Accidents – The construction industry accounts for more than a quarter of all work-related deaths and over 40,000 major injuries each year. The CDM aim is to increase safety awareness and compliance therefore reducing the likelihood of accidents occurring. Liable – A CDM Coordinator must be appointed by law for all *notifiable projects. Failure to do this will mean the client is liable for anything that is not done that should have been, and for any incidents that may occur due to this breach. Prosecution – For serious breaches in legislation the client can be prosecuted. Construction work can be stopped by the HSE or local authority and additional work may be needed to put things right which will cost more money in time wasted and labour.
What do you as a client need to do? On all projects you need to: Appoint the right people – to ensure the work is done safely and efficiently. Allow adequate time – to ensure all jobs are undertaken properly. Provide information – passing on key information, i.e. asbestos, to the construction team to ensure their safety and that of others. Communicate and cooperate – this is essential at all stages especially the design and planning stage. Injuries and unexpected cost may occur when issues are not considered or are overlooked. Management arrangements – work, especially high risk jobs are more likely to be done safely and well if they have good management in place. As a client you are not required to get actively involved in managing it yourself. Welfare facilities – before works start adequate facilities must be in place and maintained. Design is legally compliant – If you have ‘appointed the right person’ the designer should be able to tell you that the design created is legally compliant with the (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations1992. On *notifiable projects you need to also: Appoint a CDM coordinator – as soon as possible but no later than the design stage. They will: - advise on selection of competent people and CDM regulations.
- Help identify information needed by designers and contractors.
- Coordinate the health and safety arrangements during planning
- Ensure the HSE is notified
- Advise if initial construction plan is suitable
- Prepare a health and safety file for you which includes information you need to enable future maintenance of the site.
Appoint a Principle Contractor – to plan, manage, and coordinate work on site. They must be appointed as soon as possible. Have a health and safety plan in place – DO NOT allow work to commence until the Principal contractor has a working health and safety plan in place for all construction jobs to be carried out safely. Keep the health and safety file – this will be given to you by the CDM co-ordinator at the end of construction. This will then need to be kept accessible to anyone who is doing any future maintenance or demolition. It will need to be kept updated of any changes to the structure. *Notifiable projects - Work that lasts longer than 30 days or involving more than 500 person days of work. If you would like us to provide you with a quote for this service or want further information please give us a call on 01767 692196. | 
