FACT:
The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 (known as "CDM 2007") are LAW in the UK. Failing to fulfil your legal obligations under the Regulations can lead to criminal prosecution.
Prosecution example - Building collapse:
A Building company and a Director were both fined £90,000 and ordered to pay costs of over £14,000, after a shop and two flats collapsed. It was found that excavation work had undermined the shop foundations and due to lack of planning suitable support was not provided. The investigating inspector, commented that the director “was in everyday control of the site, but failed to ensure that construction work was carried out safely”. This scale of prosecution could send many businesses to the wall, when with sensible foresight and planning the whole incident could have been avoided.
Background to CDM 2007 Regulations
Construction is a disproportionately dangerous industry and improvements in construction health and safety are still urgently needed. Achieving a safer industry necessitates significant changes in both attitudes and behaviour at all levels.
Since the enactment of the original CDM Regulations (introduced in 1994), concerns have been raised about their complexity. Additionally, the bureaucratic approach of many consultants and construction professionals frustrated the CDM Regulations’ underlying health and safety objectives. Following an industry-wide consultation in 2002, the decision was made to revise the CDM Regulations.
The new CDM 2007 Regulations revised and brought together the CDM Regulations 1994 and the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 into a single regulatory package. However, many Contractors and professionals still find the CDM Regulations difficult and time consuming to implement and this has limited their effectiveness.
One of the reasons why CDM 2007 has been slow to drive improvements in site safety performance is the reluctance of many to abandon their reams of paperwork approach. The good news is: there are alternatives to expensive Consultants and confusing jargon.
Key Themes in the CDM 2007 regulations..
AIMS
The aim of the CDM 2007 regulations is to ensure that construction projects can be built, used and maintained without risks to health & safety.
CLIENT ACCOUNTABILITY:
CDM 2007 places more duties and accountability on the Client - Clients can no longer sidestep responsibility by appointing an Agent.
REDUCING BUREAUCRACY:
CDM 2007 places the focus on effective planning, management and monitoring, rather than reams of paperwork
THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF COMPETENCE:-
CDM 2007 places great emphasis on taking steps to ensure that everyone involved has relevant professional training, qualifications and experience to undertake and carry out the work safely and without creating unnecessary risk to themselves and others.
COOPERATION AND COORDINATION
CDM 2007 establishes the importance of co-operating with others and co-ordinating work in order to ensure your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by the work.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
A key theme of CDM 2007 is: The right information, provided to the right people at the right time. Improving communication avoids misunderstandings, conflicts and mistakes. This in turn reduces risk, as well as saving money and time which might otherwise be spent on corrective and remedial work.
INTEGRATION OF HEALTH & SAFETY INTO PROJECT MANAGEMENT & ENCOURAGING TEAM APPROACH
CDM 2007 is designed to promote improvements in planning and management from project conception onwards. This ensures that hazards can be identified early, and that they can consequently be eliminated, or their risks reduced at the design / planning stage. This in turn means that effort is targeted to areas where it can be most effective for improving construction health & safety performance.
Embracing the Spirit of the CDM 2007 Regulations..
6 Time Saving Tips for Effective Site Safety Management
TIP 1 - The Site Safety Survey:
A good tool for recording the site safety survey is a small digital camera - you can walk round the site taking photos of issues and layout and take very brief notes to accompany the pictures. Alternatively use the video function on the camera and speak your notes then transfer to PC to produce CDM 2007 compliant plans, induction materials etc.
TIP 2 - Planning:
Use checklists to ensure everything is properly organised and done in the right order. Amend / tick checklists as things are done to ensure a record for the CDM project file.
TIP 3 - Induction & Safe Practice:
Use the photos and information gathered during the site safety survey to make the site induction more effective and site specific using the visual examples to highlight site specific risk areas and controls.
TIP 4 - Monitoring Site Safety:
Walk round the site taking photos of good and bad site safety practice and take very brief notes to accompany the pictures. It’s hard to argue with photographic evidence!
TIP 5 - Site Safety Inspection records:
Use the video function on a digital camera and speak your notes - for an instant site safety inspection report!
TIP 6 - Construction Site Traffic / Transport Plan:
An effective and easy way to plan vehicle movements on site is to take coloured marker pens and a spare site drawing then mark in one way routes, parking zones, loading / unloading areas etc using various colours to make clear the different uses. The drawing can then be displayed for all to see and easily understand.
In conclusion: If you are interested in improving site safety and/or ensuring compliance to the CDM 2007 regulations, try adopting a fresh approach - use the tips in this article:
• to increase your site safety effectiveness
• to make more time available for the all-important practical and specific site safety matters
• to avoid getting bogged down by unnecessary paperwork
• to substantially support compliance with CDM 2007 regulations.
FOR MORE HELP WITH CDM AND CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY DOCUMENTS GO TO
http://cdmhelp.weebly.com
