The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) set out what people involved in construction work need to do to protect themselves as well as others affected by the work from harm. CDM 2015 replaced the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and have been in force since 6 April this year. To allow ongoing projects to adjust to the new regime, CDM 2015 provided for a transitional period to run for six months. Those transitional arrangements end on Tuesday 6 October 2015. From next then, a principal designer must be appointed on relevant projects unless the project comes to an end before this date.

Is a principal designer appointed on all of your relevant ongoing construction projects in time to meet the 6 October deadline? If not, the person for whom the work is being carried out (the “client”) will be responsible for the principal designer role and the duties which are imposed in regulations 11 and 12 of CDM 2015.

From our experience, those undertaking the role of the “client” in terms of CDM 2015 are very aware of the CDM changes and many have relied on the transitional CDM provisions to continue with an already appointed CDM co-ordinator for an ongoing project. From 6 October they can no longer do this. Some are appointing another consultant to act as principal designer while others are varying their existing CDM co-ordinator appointment to reflect a principal designer role also. Remember that the duties which fall on the principal designer under CDM 2015 are different and any “client” must ensure that the principal designer they are appointing has the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability to carry out their role.

To find out more about the changes please read our previous blog here.