CDM Risk Assessments

Importance of CDM Regulations

The 2020 Health and Safety Executive (HSE) key statistics reported that at least 81,000 workers suffered from work-related illnesses to construction sector workers from 2018 to 2019 in Great Britain alone. These incidents can be avoided beginning in the early stages of project development through compliance with CDM regulations. Proper implementation of CDM regulations can:

• help identify and manage construction risks concerning the project;
• pick qualified workers for the required jobs; and
• coordinate and communicate risks with personnel involved in the project.

What is CDM Risk Assessment?

A CDM risk assessment is performed to minimize the likelihood of risks as construction work progresses. It evaluates whether identified risks are avoidable or unavoidable so the appropriate controls can be applied to bolster safety.; A good CDM risk assessment reduces the risk of accidents, near misses, and fatalities during construction work.

This article will feature: 1) CDM requirements based on personnel duties; 2) consequences of non-compliance with CDM regulations; 3) tool used to streamline CDM risk assessments; and 4) free downloadable CDM risk assessment templates you can customize and use.

CDM Requirements Based on Personnel Duties

CDM regulations are applied to different roles in construction work. Listed below are the responsibilities of the most common work roles in the construction industry:

1. Commercial clients are organizations or individuals who employ the services of construction professionals to complete construction projects. They are responsible for ensuring that the principal architects, engineers, and contractors perform their work duties in a responsible and safe manner. They also have crucial influence over the health and welfare management of workers during the construction phase.
2. Designers/Architects are professionals who are responsible for creating and/or modifying designs for construction projects. They assess the plausibility of design proposals, ensuring that they are structurally sound to ensure the safety of the workers and the building’s future tenants.
3. Contractors are responsible for comprehending the blueprint presented and approved by the designer/architect and performing the actual construction work. They are liable for monitoring and managing workers by ensuring they are adequately trained to perform their duties, and that they are aware of site safety practices through toolbox talks.
4. Workers are individuals who execute manual labor. They are responsible for complying with construction site rules and procedures, including incident reporting protocols for identified risks during construction work.

Consequences of Non-Compliance with CDM Regulations

Construction personnel are expected to comply with CDM regulations to avoid legal and ethical repercussions. Failure to adhere to CDM regulations can lead to the following:

Increased construction risks

Safety is paramount across the construction industry. Overlooked construction risks increase the likelihood of accidents from happening. CDM regulations aim to protect employees from construction risks such as accidental falls, being struck by an object, accidental electrocutions, and being caught between objects and machines.

Cost blowout

Failure to adhere to CDM regulations during the planning and construction stages of a project may lead to “budget blowouts” due to the inefficiencies and technical difficulties the construction team may encounter during the course of work. Adhering to CDM regulations help make the scope of work clear so work can be completed faster with fewer hindrances.

Increased penalties

Noncompliance with HSE and CDM regulations may result in substantial fines and criminal liabilities. Construction personnel and key project stakeholders can avoid this by assessing and monitoring risks from the beginning until the completion of a project.

Tool Used to Streamline CDM Risk Assessments

CDM risk assessments are traditionally completed through pen-and-paper checklists which are inconvenient when reports and action plans need to be distributed quickly to relevant personnel. This process can be streamlined with iAuditor by SafetyCulture, a mobile app solution. Improve CDM assessment workflows and take advantage of iAuditor by utilizing the following features:

• Gather information using a handheld device
  The convenience of using handheld devices when conducting CDM risk assessments make it easier to gather information and identify risks on-the-go.
• Easily generate risk assessment reports
  CDM assessment records are automatically saved in the cloud and professional reports can be generated with a simple tap of your finger.
• Easily share visual data and evidence
  Capture unlimited pictures and annotate them for more comprehensive CDM risk assessment reports.
• Assign corrective actions on the go
  Inform responsible personnel about issues, set priority levels in real-time, and assign corrective actions for a swift resolution.
• Capture digital signatures
  Validate CDM risk assessment reports with a digital signature. These include time and date stamps to improve accountability and confirm data validity.

To help you get started, we have compiled CDM risk assessment templates you can download and customize for free.