Health and Safety

Question 1

What is the HSWA 1974?

Answer 1

A key piece of legislation that provides a legal framework for health and safety in the workplace. It places a legal framework on employer’s to to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its employees whilst in the workplace.

Question 2

What is CDM 2015?

Answer 2

CDM 2015 is a set of regulations under the HSWA 1974, that seeks to ensure health and safety within the design and construction of construction works.

Question 3

What are some key changes since CDM 2009?

Answer 3

• Omission of the CDM coordinator role, and introduction of the Principal Designer who has overall responsibility for ensuring health and safety within the design phase.
• Clients are required to make suitable arrangements to manage projects and ensure that construction work can be carried out safely and without risks to health
• The CDM 2015 regulations made it a legal requirement for a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) to be prepared for all construction projects. The CPP outlines how health and safety risks will be managed during the construction phase.
• Notifiable thresholds

Question 4

When is a project notifiable to the HSE?

Answer 4

When it has more than 15 people works simultaneously lasting more than 20 days, or exceeds 500 person days.

(20 days is the new addition to CDM 2015).

Question 5

What are the roles under CDM 2015?

Answer 5

• Client
• Workers
• Principal Designer
• Designers
• Principal Contractor
• Contractors

Question 6

What are the key documents under CDM 2015?

Answer 6

• Pre Construction Information
• Construction Phase Plan
• Health and Safety File (inc O&Ms)

Question 7

What are the client duties under CDM?

Answer 7

• Prepare the health and safety file
• Notify the HSE of the project if required
• Appoint the necessary duty holders (PD, PC)
• Provide any pre-construction information
• Coordinate project management

Question 8

Does CDM apply to domestic projects?

Answer 8

Yes. For domestic projects, the client is the PD and PC unless these are specifically appointed to others.

The client duties for domestic projects include:
- ensuring suitable arrangements
- Coordination
- Providing pre construction information
- Provide H&S file