OHS Ltd's view on the HSE's decision to re-write CDM Regulations

June 19, 2012 - PRLog -- OHS Ltd's view on the HSE's decision to re-write CDM Regulations

By Ross Gooding (OHS Ltd), Principal H&S Consultant - CDMC

The HSE has announced that it will be drafting the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations for issue 2014, following a review undertaken by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt.

It was recommend that The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and the associated ACoP evaluation should be completed by April 2012 to ensure there is a clearer expression of duties, a reduction of bureaucracy and appropriate guidance for small projects.

It was also recommend that HSE should complete the evaluation of the effectiveness of CDM 2007 and the associated ACoP by April 2012 to ensure there is a clearer expression of duties, a reduction of bureaucracy and appropriate guidance for small projects.

It is vital that any changes do not result in a diminution of current standards which may have unintended consequences for effective health and safety regulation of the construction industry, at OHS we have developed The CDM Knowledge chain which currently surpasses the current requirements of the ACoP.

The OHS CDM Knowledge chain shows continued involvement throughout the project, and not just being an inception and completion role (albeit sometime design changes do happen), It is hoped that the changes in regulations allow for a continuous involvement of the CDM-C throughout the project.

Details will be presented to the HSE board in December. However, the Executive indicated that the new Regulations are likely to be based more closely on the requirements of the EU Temporary or Mobile Construction Sites Directive.