On this page
- What is CDM 2015?
- Does CDM 2015 apply to my project?
- Who are the dutyholders under CDM 2015?
- What are a contractor's duties under CDM 2015?
- What does Part 4 of CDM 2015 require?
- What documents does CDM 2015 require?
- How does CDM 2015 affect contractors in practice?
- What are the most common CDM 2015 failings?
- How does CDM 2015 relate to the Building Regulations?
- Need support with CDM 2015?
CDM 2015, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, is the main set of regulations for managing health, safety and welfare on construction projects in Great Britain. It applies to every construction project, sets out duties for clients, designers and contractors. It requires health and safety to be planned, managed and coordinated from concept to handover.
For contractors, CDM 2015 affects almost every stage of a project: prequalification, tender, mobilisation, site management and handover. This guide explains how the regulations work from a contractor's point of view and links to more detailed guides on the key duties.
What is CDM 2015?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 came into force on 6 April 2015, replacing CDM 2007. They are made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and are enforced by HSE.
HSE's guidance on the regulations, L153 Managing health and safety in construction, explains how the duties should be applied in practice.
The regulations are divided into five parts:
- Part 1: application and interpretation
- Part 2: client duties
- Part 3: health and safety duties and roles of designers, Principal Designers, Principal Contractors and contractors
- Part 4: general requirements for all construction sites
- Part 5: transitional provisions and revocations
Does CDM 2015 apply to my project?
CDM 2015 applies to all construction work. That includes new build, alteration, refurbishment, fit out, maintenance, repair, demolition, site clearance and the installation or removal of fixed services. There is no minimum size, value or duration.
What does vary between projects is:
- The number of dutyholders. A Principal Designer and Principal Contractor are only required where there is, or is likely to be, more than one contractor.
- Notification. Only projects above the thresholds need to be notified to HSE. See F10 notification under CDM 2015.
- The level of detail. Documents and arrangements should be proportionate to the risks and complexity of the work.
Who are the dutyholders under CDM 2015?
CDM 2015 places duties on five dutyholders. HSE publishes a summary of the duties.
Client
The organisation or person for whom the project is carried out. Commercial clients must make suitable arrangements for managing the project, including allowing sufficient time and resources, appointing the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor where required, providing preconstruction information and making sure the Construction Phase Plan and health and safety file are prepared.
Domestic clients are within scope, but their duties normally pass to the contractor on a single contractor project, or to the Principal Contractor where there is more than one contractor. A domestic client can instead agree in writing for the Principal Designer to take on the client duties.
Designer
Anyone who prepares or modifies designs, or arranges for others to do so. This includes architects, engineers, temporary works designers and contractors who carry out design. Designers must eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks through their designs and provide information to others.
Principal Designer
Appointed by the client on projects with more than one contractor. The Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety in the preconstruction phase, assists with preconstruction information and prepares the health and safety file.
Principal Contractor
Appointed by the client on projects with more than one contractor. The Principal Contractor plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety in the construction phase. See our full guide to Principal Contractor duties under CDM 2015.
Contractor
Anyone who carries out, manages or controls construction work. That includes subcontractors, specialist contractors and self employed workers.
What are a contractor's duties under CDM 2015?
Every contractor, including the Principal Contractor and every subcontractor, has duties under regulation 15. In summary a contractor must:
- Not carry out work unless satisfied that the client is aware of its duties
- Plan, manage and monitor construction work under its control so it is carried out without risks to health and safety
- On single contractor projects, draw up a Construction Phase Plan and take on some of the duties that would otherwise fall to the Principal Contractor
- Comply with directions from the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor
- Comply with the parts of the Construction Phase Plan relevant to its work
- Not employ or appoint anyone to work on site unless they have, or are in the process of obtaining, the necessary skills, knowledge, training and experience
- Provide workers under its control with appropriate supervision, instructions and information, including a suitable site induction where the Principal Contractor has not provided one
- Not begin work on site unless reasonable steps have been taken to prevent unauthorised access
- Provide welfare facilities that meet Schedule 2 for its own workers, so far as they are not provided by the Principal Contractor
Regulation 8 adds general duties for every dutyholder. Each must have the skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability for their role. Each must also cooperate, communicate and report anything likely to endanger others. See competence under CDM 2015.
What does Part 4 of CDM 2015 require?
Part 4 sets out practical requirements that apply to every construction site, whoever is in control. They cover:
- Safe places of construction work, including access and egress
- Good order and site security
- Stability of structures
- Demolition and dismantling
- Explosives
- Excavations, cofferdams and caissons
- Reports of inspections
- Energy distribution installations
- Prevention of drowning
- Traffic routes and vehicles
- Prevention of risk from fire, flooding or asphyxiation
- Emergency procedures and emergency routes
- Fire detection and fire fighting
- Fresh air, temperature and weather protection
- Lighting
Every contractor must comply with Part 4 so far as it affects work under its control.
What documents does CDM 2015 require?
The regulations themselves require only a few documents:
- Preconstruction information, provided by the client with the help of the Principal Designer
- Construction Phase Plan, required on every project. See what a Construction Phase Plan needs to include
- Health and safety file, required on projects with more than one contractor
- Written appointments of the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor
- Notification to HSE, for projects above the thresholds
- Written demolition arrangements, before demolition or dismantling begins
Many other documents found on site, such as RAMS, permits, COSHH assessments and inspection reports, come from other regulations or from the way contractors meet their CDM duties. See what health and safety documents a construction contractor needs.
How does CDM 2015 affect contractors in practice?
For contractors, CDM 2015 is most visible at these points:
- Prequalification and tender: demonstrating competence and organisational capability
- Mobilisation: Construction Phase Plan, induction, welfare and site security in place before work starts
- Planning the work: RAMS that fit the plan and site rules
- During the work: supervision, cooperation, following directions and site rules
- Design: contractors who design, including temporary works, have designer duties
- Handover: providing information for the health and safety file
What are the most common CDM 2015 failings?
- Assuming CDM does not apply to small or domestic projects
- No written appointment of the Principal Designer or Principal Contractor
- Generic Construction Phase Plans
- Preconstruction information that is missing or not passed on
- Contractors starting on site without induction or welfare in place
- Design risk management treated as a paperwork exercise
- Health and safety file information not collected during the job
How does CDM 2015 relate to the Building Regulations?
Since October 2023 projects in England may also have a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under the Building Regulations. These are separate legal roles focused on compliance with the Building Regulations, not health and safety. See CDM 2015 and Building Regulations dutyholders.
Need support with CDM 2015?
Matthews & Roberts provides contractor side CDM support, including Construction Phase Plans, Principal Contractor support, Principal Designer services and CDM advice from tender to handover.
Explore CDM support for contractors →
Frequently asked questions
Does CDM 2015 apply to every construction project?
Yes. CDM 2015 applies to all construction work in Great Britain, whatever the size, duration or value of the project. It applies to commercial and domestic projects, although domestic clients' duties normally pass to their contractors or Principal Designer. What changes with the size of the project is the detail needed, the number of dutyholders and whether the project must be notified to HSE.
What counts as construction work under CDM 2015?
CDM 2015 defines construction work widely. It includes building, civil engineering and engineering construction work, such as construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration, maintenance, decommissioning, demolition and dismantling of structures. It also includes site clearance, investigation and preparation. It also covers the installation, maintenance or removal of mechanical, electrical and other services normally fixed within or to a structure.
Who enforces CDM 2015?
The Health and Safety Executive enforces CDM 2015 on most construction sites. HSE inspectors can give advice, issue notifications of contravention, serve improvement and prohibition notices and prosecute. Where an inspector finds a material breach, the business will usually be charged for HSE's time under Fee for Intervention.
What documents does CDM 2015 require?
CDM 2015 requires preconstruction information from the client, a Construction Phase Plan for every project and a health and safety file for projects with more than one contractor. Notifiable projects must be notified to HSE, usually using an F10. Appointments of the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor must be made in writing. Other documents, such as RAMS, come from other regulations or from the way contractors meet their duties.
What are the main duties of a contractor under CDM 2015?
Every contractor must plan, manage and monitor construction work under its control so it is carried out without risks to health and safety. It must have the skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability for its work, provide supervision, instructions and information to its workers, make sure workers have a suitable induction, comply with the Principal Contractor's directions and the Construction Phase Plan and cooperate with others on the project.
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