Topic: CDM
What is CDM 2015?
A clear, plain-English guide to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015: what CDM 2015 means, who it applies to, the main duty holders, key documents and how the regulations work in practice.
9 min read
CDM Hub
CDM 2015 guidance, tools and training
Plain-English guidance on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 for clients, designers, contractors and project teams, with practical tools, checklists and role-relevant training.
Hub guidance and tools support competent professional judgement. They are not legal advice and do not give a definitive compliance determination.
Start here
New to CDM? Start here.
Four steps from the basics to training that fits the responsibilities you hold.
Step 1: Understand the basics
What CDM 2015 is, why it exists and how it works in practice.
Step 2: Check whether CDM applies
CDM applies broadly to construction work, including many small and domestic projects.
Free tool: Does CDM Apply?
Step 3: Identify your duty-holder role
Your duties depend on the role you hold on a project, not simply your job title.
Free tool: CDM Duty Holder Checker
Step 4: Build knowledge for your role
Learn the core requirements, then follow a pathway based on your responsibilities.
What is CDM 2015?
CDM 2015 is the commonly used name for the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The regulations set out how health, safety and welfare must be planned, managed and coordinated on construction projects in Great Britain.
They apply throughout the life of a project, from early planning and design through to construction, and place legal duties on clients, designers, contractors and other people involved in the work.
The aim is not paperwork for its own sake: health and safety should be part of how a project is planned, designed and delivered, not added at the end.
When does CDM apply?
CDM 2015 applies broadly to construction work in Great Britain, not only to major building projects. It includes domestic projects where someone else carries out construction work on the householder’s behalf.
“Construction work” is defined broadly. It includes:
- new build, alteration, conversion and fitting out
- renovation, repair and maintenance
- demolition, dismantling and site preparation
- installing, maintaining or removing fixed building services
The CDM duty holders
CDM 2015 places duties on most of the main parties involved in construction work. What you must do depends on the role you hold.
Client
Make suitable arrangements for managing the project and appoint the right duty holders.
Designer
Eliminate foreseeable risks where possible, then reduce or control risks that cannot be eliminated.
Principal Designer
Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase.
- Guide: Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015
- Guide: Who can be a Principal Designer under CDM 2015?
- Guide: How to appoint a Principal Designer under CDM 2015
- Template: Principal Designer Appointment Letter
- Guide: Principal Designer vs Principal Contractor: what is the difference?
- Checklist: Principal Designer Duties Checklist
Contractor
Plan, manage and monitor construction work under their control.
Principal Contractor
Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the construction phase.
- Guide: Principal Contractor duties explained
- Guide: Who can be a Principal Contractor under CDM 2015?
- Guide: How to appoint a Principal Contractor under CDM 2015
- Template: Principal Contractor Appointment Letter
- Guide: Principal Designer vs Principal Contractor: what is the difference?
- Guide: Construction site inductions under CDM 2015: what should they cover?
- Checklist: Principal Contractor Duties Checklist
Workers
Cooperate, follow arrangements and take reasonable care of themselves and others.
- Guide: CDM duty holders explained
Where a project involves more than one contractor, the client must appoint a Principal Designer and a Principal Contractor.
Read about each duty holderFree tool: CDM Responsibilities MatrixComing soon
Key CDM documents
The main documents and notifications CDM 2015 asks project teams to prepare.
Pre-construction information
Information the client provides to designers and contractors so they can identify and manage the health and safety risks of the work.
Construction phase plan
Prepared before the construction phase begins: by the contractor on a single-contractor project, or by the Principal Contractor where there is more than one.
Health and safety file
Required for projects involving more than one contractor. The client must ensure the Principal Designer prepares it, to help plan future construction work safely.
F10 notification
Needed where work is expected to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers at the same time, or to exceed 500 person-days.
CDM guides
Plain-English explanations of CDM duties and key concepts.
Topic: CDM
When does CDM apply?
CDM 2015 applies far more widely than many people realise. It is not limited to major construction sites or projects that need an F10 notification. If work falls within the legal definition of construction work, CDM duties can apply to projects of any size.
7 min read
Topic: CDM
CDM client duties explained
Clients have one of the most influential roles under CDM 2015. They set the budget, programme and procurement approach, appoint the project team and create the conditions in which health and safety will be managed. This guide explains the main CDM client duties and what they look like in practice.
11 min read
Free CDM tools
Quick interactive checks for guidance, with no sign-up needed.
Free tool
Does CDM Apply?
Answer a few questions about your project to see whether CDM 2015 is likely to apply.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
Free tool
CDM Duty Holder Checker
Answer two questions about the client and contractor structure to see which CDM 2015 roles apply and who carries the client duties.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
Free tool
F10 Notification Calculator
Check whether planned construction work is likely to meet either CDM 2015 notification threshold, using working days, peak workers and person-days.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
- Coming soon
Free tool
CDM Responsibilities Matrix
See the main responsibilities of each CDM 2015 duty holder side by side.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
CDM checklists
Working checklists for common duty-holder tasks.
Checklist
Site Induction Checklist
Prepare, deliver and record a site-specific construction induction, including site rules, emergencies, key risks and attendance.
General guidance and example content. Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance.
Checklist
CDM Client Duties Checklist
Review the key CDM 2015 client duties, including project arrangements, appointments, PCI, the CPP, F10 and Health and Safety File.
General guidance and example content. Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance.
Checklist
Principal Designer Duties Checklist
Review the Principal Designer's key CDM 2015 duties, including design risk, designer coordination, PCI, CPP information and the Health and Safety File.
General guidance and example content. Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance.
Checklist
Principal Contractor Duties Checklist
Review the Principal Contractor's key CDM 2015 duties, including the CPP, coordination, induction, welfare and worker consultation.
General guidance and example content. Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance.
Checklist
Construction Phase Plan Checklist
Review whether a Construction Phase Plan is project-specific, proportionate, addresses significant risks and is kept current during construction.
General guidance and example content. Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance.
Checklist
Pre-Construction Information Checklist
Review whether Pre-Construction Information is relevant, proportionate, provided when needed and kept current throughout the project.
General guidance and example content. Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance.
Checklist
Health & Safety File Checklist
Review the preparation, relevant content, updating, handover and client retention of a CDM Health and Safety File.
General guidance and example content. Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance.
CDM training
CDM Regulations 2015 Training
Aptoris is developing CDM Regulations 2015 Training that keeps the required core consistent, then adds role-relevant learning based on the responsibilities a learner actually holds.