Designer Duties under CDM Regulations

Regardless of whether a project is notifiable or not, under the CDM Regulations 2007, Designers have duties whenever they prepare construction designs. It doesn't matter whether or not planning permission has been granted, funds secured or the project is high-risk.

Health and Safety from the beginning

The aim is to ensure health and safety is included as an inherent feature of the design from the earliest possible time, be that:

• Feasibility study
• Concept design
• Bidding for grant funds
• Modification of existing designs

In broad outline, Designers must ensure they are adequately resourced and competent to carry out the work. They are then responsible for:

• Checking that Clients are aware of their duties under the regulations
• Design out or otherwise eliminate hazards
• Provide adequate information about significant risks associated with the design
• Coordinate their work with other Designers to ensure risks are managed and controlled in the best way.

Designers' extended responsibilities

Designers have a wide brief in regard to hazards and risks associated with the design, which extends to just about everyone associated with the building throughout its life and use. As part of this responsibility, they are required to take account of:

• Those who are to undertake construction, which includes any demolition work
• Other people who may be affected by the construction work
• Eventual Users of the building (area or facility)
• Those who will be responsible for subsequent maintenance work.

By way of illustration, a designer might minimise the risk of people being injured by falls from height by designing a building with a “no maintenance” roof. The benefits that might result from such a design decision could include:

• No rooftop plant that would require maintenance workers to have access to the roof area
• No roof area access needed for cleaning purposes. Instead, periodic cleaning could be undertaken using a pressure hose from a mobile scaffold tower.
• There would be no requirement for roof top parapets of for a "mansafe" system.

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