Simplifying safety regs
February 1st 2007

The Health & Safety Commission (HSC) has revised the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations, following consultations with the industry, which highlighted major problems with the bureaucratic nature of the current system. The new, simplified CDM Regulations will bring together the CDM 1994 and the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare)Regulations 1996 into a single regulatory package – CDM2007 – that takes effect on April 6th 2007

Derek Hillier, Operations Manager with the National Britannia Group, one of the UK's leading safety, health and environment risk management specialists, says "The key aim of CDM2007 is to more effectively integrate health and safety considerations into the management of construction projects, from the design concept onwards, and to encourage everyone involved to work together.

"The intention is for health and safety issues to be treated as an essential and integrated part of a project's development. It is primarily about using risk management to reduce the likelihood of injury or illness.

"The new regulations require designers and contractors to eliminate or reduce hazards at the design or planning stage, and provide information on remaining risks, if they are significant, so they can be properly managed.

Unnecessary bureaucracy is discouraged," he added.

Inclusive responsibility: Under the new regulations the safe use of building materials and the protection of those employed in the various stages of construction, is now an inclusive responsibility shared by clients, designers, contractors and manufacturers.

HSE research shows that designers are currently failing to exploit the potential they have to eliminate and reduce risks. The revised regulations clarify the role of designers who will be required to make clients aware of their duties, give due regard to health and safety at the design stage and co-operate with others involved in the project.

Another key change is the creation of a new role of CDM Co-ordinator that replaces the existing position of Planning Supervisor. The CDM Co-ordinator will be competent in health and safety management and possess an in-depth understanding of relevant legislation. In order to minimise risks, they will advise on the safety implications of designs and projects, during and at the completion of the construction phase.

Other significant revisions include enabling construction clients to have greater influence over the health and safety standards of their project. Emphasis is also placed on the importance of competence at all levels in securing health and safety benefits, whilst simplifying the assessment of competence.

Time to plan The HSC has tried to allay concerns over the new regulations, raised by small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), explaining that the changes do not impose new duties on clients but make it clearer what clients should already be doing under current health and safety law.

CDM2007 will be supported by an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and industry-approved guidance, which is now available to help give construction and design professionals time to plan and prepare for the regulatory changes before they come into force in three months time.

According to figures from the HSE more than 2800 people in the UK have died from injuries they received as a result of construction work in the last 25 years and many others have been injured.

Hillier continues "Working in the construction industry carries with it inherent risks due to its very nature. Too many in the industry have been involved in accidents and health and safety improvements are urgently needed.

"The new regulations will play an important part in enabling everyone involved in a construction project from start to finish, to clearly understand what their health and safety responsibilities are, and what they should be doing to help cut the number of deaths and injuries in their industry." Derek Hillier says "Businesses and organisations who want to find out more about CDM2007 and what they need to be doing should contact health and safety specialists who will be able to guide them through the new regulations."

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