The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, commonly known as CDM 2015, are a cornerstone of UK construction health and safety legislation. These regulations were established to improve risk management and planning across the lifecycle of construction projects, from initial concept and design through to build, handover, and future maintenance.
At their heart, the CDM Regulations are about ensuring that projects are planned, managed, and executed with safety in mind. Everyone involved, from the client commissioning the work to the workers delivering it on-site, has legal duties to uphold. Failing to comply can result in enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), project delays, and increased risks to workers and the public.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of CDM 2015, who it applies to, and what each dutyholder must do. Whether you are overseeing a commercial development, refurbishing a domestic property, or managing sub-contractors on site, Kingfisher Professional Services can support you with practical CDM compliance at every stage.
What Are CDM Regulations and Who Do They Apply To?
Purpose of CDM 2015
CDM 2015 was introduced to address some of the persistent health and safety issues in the construction sector. Construction remains one of the most dangerous industries in the UK, and many accidents stem from poor planning, unclear roles, or lack of coordination between parties.
The purpose of CDM 2015 is to place legally binding duties on those who can influence risk, particularly at the early stages when key decisions are made. By embedding health and safety into the design and planning phases, the aim is to reduce incidents during construction and beyond.
It ensures that health and safety is not an afterthought but a core consideration throughout the project lifecycle. That includes setting out requirements for site welfare, risk assessments, planning documents, inductions, and competence verification. The legislation applies equally to large commercial builds and smaller domestic projects where more than one contractor is involved.
Who Is Affected?
CDM 2015 applies to virtually everyone involved in a construction project, assigning clear duties to each role. It divides responsibilities across six main dutyholders:
Clients are the individuals or organisations who commission the work. They must ensure sufficient time and budget is allocated, appoint competent people, and check that health and safety arrangements are in place before work begins.
Principal Designers are appointed for projects involving more than one contractor. Their role is to manage health and safety during the pre-construction phase, coordinate the design team, and ensure risks are addressed in the design process.
Designers include architects, engineers, and any specialist consultants responsible for preparing or modifying designs. They must eliminate foreseeable risks where possible and communicate residual risks to the Principal Designer and others.
Principal Contractors manage the construction phase and ensure all work is carried out safely. They must develop a Construction Phase Plan, coordinate contractors, and manage site safety, inductions, and communications.
Contractors are responsible for planning and managing their work safely, cooperating with the Principal Contractor, and ensuring workers are competent, trained, and supervised appropriately.
Workers are expected to follow instructions, use provided PPE correctly, and report unsafe conditions. They play a critical role in maintaining site safety on a day-to-day basis.
Each dutyholder must understand and discharge their responsibilities. This is not just good practice: it is a legal obligation.
When is a Project Notifiable? Understanding the F10 Requirement
Not all construction projects must be notified to the HSE, but many are. A project becomes notifiable under CDM 2015 if it is expected to last more than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers on site at any point, or if it exceeds 500 person-days of construction work.
Where these thresholds are met, an F10 notification must be submitted to the HSE before construction work starts. The notification includes basic details such as the project address, start and end dates, dutyholder names, and site contact information. It must be displayed in a visible location on site.
The responsibility for notifying the HSE lies with the client, although in practice this is often completed with assistance from the Principal Designer. The notification must also be updated if any project details change.
Failing to notify a notifiable project can lead to enforcement action and potential fines. It also signals poor planning and oversight, which can lead to delays, reputational damage, or worse, serious health and safety breaches.
Duties by Role: What Each CDM Dutyholder Must Do
Clients
Clients have the greatest influence over how a project is set up and managed. Their responsibilities include appointing competent dutyholders, ensuring enough time and resources are made available, and checking that appropriate health and safety arrangements are in place.
A key duty is the written appointment of a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor on projects involving more than one contractor. Clients must also ensure welfare facilities are provided from the outset and that health and safety is monitored throughout the project.
Principal Designers
The Principal Designer is accountable for planning, managing, and coordinating health and safety during the design and pre-construction phase. They are expected to work closely with the design team to eliminate or reduce foreseeable risks before work begins.
They must also ensure that all designers are complying with their CDM duties and that the client understands their own legal responsibilities. Coordination of information is key, particularly in collating pre-construction information and preparing the Health and Safety File.
Designers
Designers must ensure their designs are safe to construct, use, maintain, and eventually demolish. Where risks cannot be eliminated through design, these should be mitigated and clearly communicated to those affected.
Designers must cooperate with the Principal Designer, contribute to the Health and Safety File, and refrain from passing on unnecessary risk to contractors and workers downstream.
Principal Contractors
The Principal Contractor is the key dutyholder during the construction phase. They must develop and maintain a Construction Phase Plan tailored to the site, manage day-to-day health and safety, and coordinate the activities of contractors.
They are responsible for site inductions, site security, welfare arrangements, emergency planning, and reporting incidents. They also maintain communication between the client, the workforce, and other dutyholders.
Contractors
Contractors, whether sole traders or large teams, must plan and manage their work in a way that protects themselves and others. They must comply with the Construction Phase Plan and any site-specific rules.
They must conduct appropriate risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) and make sure their workers are trained, competent, and supervised. They are also responsible for maintaining plant and equipment in a safe condition.
Workers
Workers play a frontline role in construction safety. Their responsibilities include participating in site inductions, following instructions, using personal protective equipment correctly, and reporting unsafe practices or near-misses.
Although workers do not have formal CDM duties, their cooperation and engagement are essential to achieving a safe site.
Required CDM Documentation and When to Prepare It
Pre-Construction Information
This document includes critical project details such as site-specific risks, access issues, existing services, previous asbestos surveys, and more. It is assembled by the client and Principal Designer and issued before any construction work starts.
The goal is to provide contractors with enough information to plan their work safely and avoid unforeseen hazards. Failing to provide accurate pre-construction information can result in incomplete risk assessments and poor planning decisions.
Construction Phase Plan
Every construction site must have a Construction Phase Plan in place before work begins. This document is prepared by the Principal Contractor and sets out how health and safety will be managed on site.
It includes details such as traffic management, emergency procedures, arrangements for worker training, risk assessments, and site rules. The CPP must be updated regularly as work progresses and conditions change.
Health & Safety File
The Health and Safety File is a key legacy document, created by the Principal Designer and passed to the client at the end of the project. It contains information that may be needed for future maintenance, repair, alteration, or demolition.
It should be easy to access, well-organised, and include drawings, specifications, hazard information, and operational manuals. It must be updated if work changes during the project.
Risk Assessments & Method Statements (RAMS)
RAMS are a legal requirement under CDM and general health and safety law. They explain how specific tasks will be carried out safely, identifying the risks, who may be affected, and what controls are in place.
RAMS must be task-specific, site-specific, and proportionate to the risk. All workers involved in the task must be briefed on the contents of the RAMS and understand their role in applying the controls.
Site Inductions and Welfare Provision
Before starting work on any construction site, workers must receive an induction covering site rules, hazards, PPE requirements, and emergency procedures. This is a legal requirement and helps ensure a consistent safety standard.
Welfare facilities must be in place from the start of the project, including toilets, washing stations, rest areas, and clean drinking water. These must be maintained to a suitable standard throughout the project.
CDM Compliance Timeline: What to Do and When
Effective CDM compliance requires alignment with your project timeline. The earlier you identify your legal duties, the smoother your project will run.
In the planning stage, clients must define the scope, appoint dutyholders, and initiate the F10 notification if required. The Principal Designer begins coordinating the design team and gathering pre-construction information.
During the pre-construction phase, design risk management is carried out, RAMS are developed, and the Construction Phase Plan is prepared. The client confirms that welfare and safety arrangements are in place.
As the construction phase begins, site inductions take place, ongoing coordination is maintained, and the Health and Safety File starts to be compiled. This continues through to handover, where the file is transferred to the client and lessons are captured for future projects.
CDM Compliance Checklist and Templates
Maintaining structured documentation helps ensure nothing is missed. Suggested templates include:
- A dutyholder responsibility matrix outlining who does what
- An editable F10 Notification Form for submission to the HSE
- A Pre-Construction Information template for gathering risk data
- A Construction Phase Plan template aligned to HSE guidance
- RAMS templates for high-risk tasks
- A Health & Safety File structure checklist
- Competence assessment records for contractors
- A site induction checklist for new starters
Templates save time, reduce inconsistency, and support audit readiness.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Many CDM failings arise from poor planning or assumptions that others are managing compliance. Common issues include:
- Appointing the Principal Designer or Principal Contractor too late, which leaves safety arrangements disorganised.
- Relying on generic RAMS that do not reflect the site or task.
- Allowing the Health and Safety File to be incomplete or forgotten at handover.
- Providing inadequate welfare on short-duration or small sites.
- Failing to verify contractor competence or training.
Avoiding these issues requires clarity, early engagement, and regular checks throughout the project.
How Kingfisher Professional Services Can Help
At Kingfisher, we offer tailored support for construction projects of all sizes. Whether you’re new to CDM or managing multiple contractors, we provide practical advice and hands-on help.
Our services include:
- Reviewing and producing compliant documentation, including RAMS, Construction Phase Plans, and Health & Safety Files
- Acting as CDM Advisor to the client or Principal Designer
- Delivering dutyholder briefings and toolbox talks
- Supporting F10 submissions and regulatory correspondence
- Conducting site audits and gap analysis to identify non-compliance
We work across commercial, domestic, refurbishment, and maintenance projects, providing clear, proportional guidance that keeps your project safe and compliant.
Conclusion
The CDM Regulations 2015 are central to construction health and safety in the UK. They ensure that projects are planned and managed in a way that reduces risk, protects workers, and meets legal obligations.
By understanding your duties, appointing the right people, and maintaining accurate documentation, compliance becomes a structured and achievable part of every project.
If you need guidance or hands-on support, Kingfisher Professional Services is ready to assist.