2015 CDM Regulations

On Monday 6 April 2015, the 2015 CDM Regulations replaced the 2007 Regulations. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) are the main set of regulations for managing the health, safety and welfare of construction projects.

Key changes of the new 2015 CDM Regulations

1. All projects must have:

  • workers with the right skills, knowledge, training and experience
  • contractors providing appropriate supervision, instruction and information
  • a written construction phase plan

2. Project where more than one contractor is involved (domestic or non-domestic) must have 1 above plus:

  • principal designer and principal contractor must be appointed
  • a health and safety file

3. If work is scheduled to:

  • last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project
  • OR exceeds 500 person days

All of 1 and 2 above plus

  • Client must notify project to HSE
  • Main roles include:
  • Client
  • Designers
  • Contractors

Where there is more than one contractor there are additional roles:

  • Principle designer
  • Principle contractor

On large projects the client is responsible for managing the Principle designer and Principle contractor to make sure they carry out their duties. The designer is responsible for health and safety during the planning stage including identifying, eliminating or minimising foreseeable health and safety risks.

What happens if I don’t comply with my duties under the 2015 CDM Regulations?

You are more likely to have a dangerous or fatal accident while your construction work is carried out if you do not ensure that the CDM 2015 Regulations are followed. In addition, your finished structure may not be safe to use, safe to maintain and may not deliver you good value for money.

Serious breaches of health and safety legislation on a construction project could result in construction work having to be stopped by HSE or your local authority and additional work may be needed to rectify matters. In the most serious circumstances you may be prosecuted.

What’s in it for me?

The 2015 CDM Regulations aim to help you ensure that your construction project is safe to build, safe to use, safe to maintain and delivers good value by:

  • helping you to reduce bureaucracy and paperwork – making the focus planning and management, rather than the plan and other paperwork;
  • simplifying the regulations to improve clarity – so making it easier for duty holders to know what is expected of them;
  • encouraging more integration – strengthening the requirements regarding co-ordination and co-operation, particularly between designers and contractors;
  • simplifying the assessment of competence (both for organisations and individuals) to help raise standards and reduce bureaucracy; and
  • maximising their flexibility – to fit with the vast range of contractual arrangements.

The CDM Coordinator role has been removed from the regulations, however we can act as CDM Advisor. We offer competent support and access to health and safety expertise.

For more information on 2015 cdm regulations, contact us today.

2015 CDM Regulations
Enquire about 2015 CDM Regulations Services

    Please use the contact form below to enquire about our services:


    Call Us: 0845 834 0400
    We are a start-up business and came to Walker Health and Safety Services with little to no knowledge of what we needed to do ensure that our business maintained the highest standards of HSE. Emma guided us through the process and made recommendations which we implemented to ensure that we adhere to the higher of best practice and legal standards (at our request). We have been audited by two international customers who were unable to identify any shortcomings and requested sight of multiple documents all of which we were immediately able to provide. It was satisfying to be able to show that we took HSE seriously and were a well prepared and a professional organization. I definitely felt that Emma's services were money well spent and we value her advice which is always proportionate and sensible.

    The Battery Box
    As a voluntarily run recreation ground, with several sporting clubs, a social club and significant general amenity use by the public, the prospect of updating our inadequate H&S provision was daunting. Emma helped and guided us and, thankfully, told us to keep it simple but thorough. This gave us the encouragement we needed and knowing Emma was on hand as and when required was very reassuring. We would recommend her services to you: competent, professional, and understanding.

    St George's Recreation Ground
    Walker Health and Safety have helped us with getting our ISO 45001. Emma is very professional and helpful plus very friendly to work with. We get a lot of guidance and advice on improving our business system.

    Portland Lighting Limited
    It was a pleasure to work with Emma, she assisted in helping us get Chas up and running. Or should I say that she pretty much sorted it all for us, as we didn't know what we were doing. She was very knowledgeable, kind and helpful, and she brought biscuits! ;-) I would highly recommend this firm.

    Vision Architecture
    Emma was recommended to me to carry out a gap analysis of health and safety documentation and procedures for both our construction and joinery companies. I highly recommend Emma for her personable approach, thorough analysis and clear recommendations, quick turnaround, and patience with my many questions! No job seems to phase Emma and I will definitely be asking her for more help in the future!

    DRG Solutions
    Read all testimonials

    Associations and Affiliates