The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM Regulations) were revised in 2015 replacing the role of CDM co-ordinator with a principal designer. The principal designer has responsibility for co-ordination of health and safety during the pre-construction phase so that the risk of harm to those who have to build, use and maintain structures is reduced.
At MEM Property Services we understand that we have an important role in influencing how risks to health and safety are managed throughout the project. Design decisions we make can have a significant influence in ensuring the project is delivered in a way that secures the health and safety of everyone affected by the work.
As guidance, from the Health & Safety Executive, Principal designers must:
plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre- construction phase. In doing so they must take account of relevant information (such as an existing health and safety file) that might affect design work carried out both before and after the construction phase has started
help and advise the client in bringing together pre-construction information, and provide the information designers and contractors need to carry out their duties
work with any other designers on the project to eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks to anyone affected by the work and, where that is not possible, take steps to reduce or control those risks
ensure that everyone involved in the pre-construction phase communicates and co-operates, co-ordinating their work wherever required
liaise with the principal contractor, keeping them informed of any risks that need to be controlled during the construction phase