CDM-C Questions
Is the CDM co-ordinator the same as the old planning supervisor?
The CDM co-ordinator is a new role, so what are the main duties of CDM co-ordinators?
Will existing planning supervisors need more training if they are to become CDM co-ordinators?
What do you mean by ‘a project advisor’?
When should the CDM co-ordinator be appointed?
Can a CDM co-ordinator be a company or an individual?
Do projects with a domestic client and which last longer than 30 days, or 500 person days of construction work, require a CDM co-ordinator, a principal contractor a written construction phase plan, and a health and safety file?
Who can be a CDM co-ordinator?
Should the CDM co-ordinator monitor site conditions?
Answers
Is the CDM co-ordinator the same as the old planning supervisor?
No. Although the duties are broadly similar we are looking for a very different approach from the old planning supervisor. The co-ordinator is the facilitator that ensures that the project team co-operate and co-ordinate their work with respect health and safety and advises the client. The CDM co-ordinator, need different skills and competencies to make sure these duties are met. In particular, they must advise the client on how to meet the client’s duties under CDM 2007, and assist them in doing so. The role of CDM co-ordinator provides the client with a project advisor on health and safety management, and ensuring effective planning of the work, to assist with the appointment of competent contractors, to ensure the proper co-ordination of the design process and to prepare the health and safety file.
The CDM co-ordinator is a new role, so what are the main duties of CDM co-ordinators?
The main duties of CDM co-ordinator’s are
Advise and assist the client in meeting their duties as a client under CDM 2007, in particular
- the duty to appoint competent designers and contractors;
- the duty to ensure that adequate arrangements are in place for managing the project;
- notify HSE about the project
- co-ordinate design work, planning and other preparation for construction where relevant to health and safety;
- identify and collect the pre-construction information and advise the client if surveys need to be commissioned to fill significant gaps;
- promptly provide in a convenient form to those involved with the design of the structure; and to every contractor (including the principal contractor) who may be or has been appointed by the client, such parts of the pre-construction information which are relevant;
- manage the flow of health and safety information between clients, designers and contractors;
- advise the client on the suitability of the initial construction phase plan and the arrangements made to ensure that welfare facilities are on site from the start;
- produce or update a relevant, user friendly, health and safety file suitable for future use at the end of the construction phase.
Will existing planning supervisors need more training if they are to become CDM co-ordinators?
It depends on their existing competence. CDM co-ordinators must be competent for the duties that they are called on to perform. They will need good communications and inter-personal skills to fulfil their role. They will need to have a good understanding of the design and construction process and knowledge of health and safety. The transitional provisions in the new CDM 2007 Regulations allow 12 months for planning supervisors to acquire the new skills that they need. If they have not achieved competence during that period, a new CDM co-ordinator will need to be appointed.
What do you mean by ‘a project advisor’?
Under the new CDM 2007 Regulations, clients are required to make sure that other members of the project team have adequate arrangements in place to ensure the health and safety of those working on the project. The CDM co-ordinator has a duty to advise and assist the client in meeting this obligation. If the CDM co-ordinator is unhappy with the arrangements made by a particular project team member, they should advise the client of their concern. The client can then insist that the problem is put right. This means that the client empowers the CDM co-ordinator to ensure that the arrangements put in place by the project team are sufficient in health and safety terms.
When should the CDM co-ordinator be appointed?
The CDM co-ordinator should be appointed as early as possible as but no later than after initial design work is completed. ‘Initial design work’ includes feasibility studies to enable them to decide whether or not to proceed with the project, and any work necessary to identify the client’s requirements or possible constraints on the development. The CDM co-ordinator must be appointed early- because the role is crucial for the effective planning and establishment of health and safety management arrangements from the start of the project. The CDM co-ordinator must be appointed before detailed design work begins.
Can a CDM co-ordinator be a company or an individual?
Either. For many projects, particularly smaller ones, the CDM co-ordinator appointed by the client may be an individual person. For larger projects, the CDM co-ordinator is more likely to be a company/firm/partnership. In this instance it is acceptable for the name of the CDM co-ordinator on the notification form F10 to be that of the organisation.
Do projects with a domestic client and which last longer than 30 days, or 500 person days of construction work, require a CDM co-ordinator, a principal contractor a written construction phase plan, and a health and safety file?
No. This is because a domestic client is not a ‘client’ as defined by the Regulations, and Part 3 of the Regulations does not apply to projects where there is a domestic client.
Who can be a CDM co-ordinator?
Anyone can be a CDM co-ordinator provided that they have the appropriate level of competence. The CDM co-ordinator can be a designer, contractor or a stand-alone CDM co-ordinator. The task can be shared out and the role can be combined with another role for example project manager, designer or principal contractor. A formal appointment in writing must be made. Adopt a system that works for your project.
Should the CDM co-ordinator monitor site conditions?
No. CDM 2007 does not require the CDM co-ordinator to assess the performance on site of the principal contractor. The overall responsibility for controlling and monitoring site health and safety standards lies with the principal contractor.
