Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007)

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007)

Construction remains a disproportionately dangerous industry where improvements in health and safety are urgently needed. The improvements require significant and permanent changes in duty holder attitudes and behaviour. Since the original CDM Regulations were introduced in 1994, concerns were raised that their complexity and the bureaucratic approach of many duty holders frustrated the Regulations' underlying health and safety objectives. These views were supported by an industry-wide consultation in 2002 which resulted in the decision to revise the Regulations.

The new CDM 2007 Regulations revise and bring together the CDM Regulations 1994 and the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 into a single regulatory package.

The key aim of CDM2007 is to integrate health and safety into the management of the project and to encourage everyone involved to work together to:

Improve the planning and management of projects from the very start.

Identify risks early on.

Target effort where it can do the most good in terms of health and safety, and

Discourage unnecessary bureaucracy.

These Regulations are intended to focus attention on planning and management throughout construction projects, from design concept onwards. The aim is for health and safety considerations to be treated as an essential, but normal part of a project’s development – not an afterthought or bolt-on extra.

For more information on CDM2007 visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/legal.htm to view Legal Requirements or http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l144.pdf to download Managing health and safety in construction which gives a good introduction.