Dashpivot article – CDM Regulations Construction Phase Plan
CDM Regulations Construction Phase Plan
This article explains the relevance of the CDM Regulations (CDM 2015) to a Construction Phase Plan (CPP). It mainly highlights the essential components and elements of an effective Construction Phase Plan, as stated and required in the CDM 2015.
What is CDM 2015, and How is it Important in Construction?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 or otherwise known as CDM 2015 is a group of health and safety regulations outlined by the UK to make sure that a construction project is properly managed with risk assessment management, and health and safety planning, mainly focusing on identifying, assessing, and controlling risks all throughout its project lifecycle. It is mandated prior to starting the actual project so that risks and hazards are recognised in the planning and earliest stages. The regulations laid out under CDM 2015 are applied as early as the initial design phase of the project up until its completion, requiring duty holders to uphold to their roles and responsibilities and develop a comprehensive Construction Phase Plan (CPP) which will be further explained later. Take note that the CDM 2015 regulations are applicable to all construction projects across the UK.
The CDM 2015 is the foundation of maintaining strict and high safety standards in the UK construction industry. It is also legally binding under the UK law, meaning non-compliance with CDM 2015 means resulting in penalties, fines, and imprisonment for worst case scenarios. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for overseeing and enforcing CDM 2015 across construction projects. Additionally, the HSE is also the one providing businesses with guidance on the best industry practices. Ever since the CDM Regulations were first introduced in 1994, the HSE has noticed a significant reduction in fatalities, and although there are other regulations and safety practices in the UK construction industry, it is an undeniable fact that the CDM 2015 and the UK’s evolving risk management practices have contributed to improving site safety and worker welfare. Furthermore, with welfare provisions, CDM 2015 includes mandating businesses to provide welfare facilities on construction sites, like proper cleaning areas, toilers, rest areas, handwashing facilities, and more.
There are several documents mandated under the CDM 2015 such as the Construction Phase Plan (CPP), Health and Safety Tile, Risk Assessments, Method Statements, Construction Health and Safety Plan, Site Log, Daily Diaries, Fire Safety Plan, Waste Management Plan, Subcontractor Documentation, and many more. Under the CDM 2015, with this article primarily focusing on the CPP, it lays out its key and necessary components, and legal requirements, which are critical to promoting a healthy and safe workplace, and prioritises the well-being of workers involved in the construction project.
What are the Required Components of a Construction Phase Plan Under CDM 2015?
Key Elements of a Construction Phase Plan as per CDM 2015
The Construction Phase Plan (CPP) is a well-structured document mandated under CDM 2015 that contains the general details and information necessary to manage a construction project prioritising health, safety, and well-being of the workers and employees.
To get into detail with the components of a Construction Phase Plan document, see article What is a Construction Phase Plan.
Health and safety risks should be identified and managed in the plan by providing sections for Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS). Even if the specific construction activities haven’t been fully determined yet, the CPP is still drafted basing on the scope and intended outcomes of the project. Identifying the specific risks of the project without knowing the detailed construction activities or from a project without a fully-defined set of activities can be challenging, but it is possible. The CDM 2015 encourages identifying risks from any available information and methods, for as long as they are aligned with the general guidelines focusing on health and safety. There are general categories of risks that can be anticipated and included in the CPP, as they are already recognised from historical data, acquired information from experts, and based from common risks that most construction projects face. So, when drafting the CPP before construction activities start, base the risks from the three suggested methods and the general categories of risks outlined under CDM 2015.
Some General Categories of Risks as per CDM 2015
Health and Safety Risks - These include electrical hazards, slips, trips, falls, accidents caused by machines, and anything similar. Other health and safety risks are exposure to hazardous substances, fire hazards, noise, risks linked to confined spaces, structural collapses, and more.
Design Risks - Design risks are ones related to a building’s structural instability. For example, the designer designed a building an extremely complex load-bearing structure. Workers might have difficulty constructing the design in real-life safely. There are poor design information that confuse workers on site and pose safety issues when performing the construction tasks. Another would be the lack in designing and incorporating fire escape routes, or using substandard materials with poor fire resistance. Additionally, design risks are also caused by sudden changes of the design during construction works. Owners and clients may change their minds on the design, or there might be unforeseen circumstances that lead to deciding into a change of design. Changes oftentimes introduce new risks, causing further delay and new safety concerns.
Environmental Risks - These are excessive waste caused by ineffective waste management, soil and water contamination, air pollution, noise pollution, and more.
The CDM 2015 outlines the general risks mentioned above involved in construction project prior to construction work and at the same time emphasises proactive risk management all throughout the project from various roles like the clients, designers, contractor, and workers within their responsibilities and scope of work.
Roles and Responsibilities of Key Persons Under CDM 2015
In the earlier stage and before work actually starts, the Client must appoint their principal contractor and principal designer, and ensure that these appointed entities have the accreditation, experience, knowledge, and skills that align with the requirements and regulations stated with CDM 2015. Under CDM 2015, it heavily defines the definitions of the Client, Designer, Principal Contractor, and Contractors, to make sure that everyone knows exactly who is responsible for what and there are no confusions and overlaps in their duties. Clarified roles reduces tasks of being overlooked, and when the responsibilities are properly laid out, it’s easier to track compliance and promote accountability across different organisations. Aside from the client appointing the roles and responsibilities, they should also make sure that the proper arrangements for managing health and safety across the project and throughout its lifecycle are in place, including developing, reviewing, and following a proper Construction Phase Plan (CPP). The client’s main roles here are to set the terms and arrangements, provide key information about the project to all persons involved, and make sure health and safety are prioritised.
The Designer is responsible for making sure that their design choices do not cause any risk that harm the workers, and that with every step in the design process, they make sure to influence and incorporate safety in everything. For example, setting so that the design incorporates prefabricated components to reduce the likelihood of any workers doing extra hazardous work like working at heights. Another example would be reducing the likelihood of accidents, like making walkways large, and adding lights in areas that are possibly dark. Designers may also include in their designs to control risks, like making the electrical installations' layout easier for maintenance work once the construction is done.
The Principal Contractor is the key person assigned to develop a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) that outlines the safety procedures aligned to the designs by the designers. They also lay out the risk assessments from the risks anticipated during the design phase and initial stages. They make sure that safety is the top priority on site all throughout the project, and coordinate the construction works and activities between the contractors and subcontractors. Furthermore, they are the enforcers that maintain compliance as outlined in CDM 2015.
The Worker, as outlined in CDM 2015, should follow all the site safety rules and procedures set by the client and any recommended safe working methods from the designer. Aside from working safely, workers are also responsible for reporting hazards and unsafe conditions the moment they recognise or come across one.
For more information on the general contents, components, categories of risks, and roles and responsibilities under the CDM Regulations, refer to the CDM 2015 document provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Why Should the CPP be Communicated to Workers and Subcontractors?
There should be clear communication between the principal contractor, contractors, subcontractors, and workers especially in relaying the important details from the CPP to make sure that everyone knows sand understands the safety procedures, hazards, and control set in place. The CPP is a dynamic, comprehensive document that outlines how health and safety will be managed, and should be regularly updated when there is a need for it. Effective communication about the CPP is important to reduce accidents and injuries in the workplace. As outlined in the CDM 2015, the CPP must be communicated clearly to provide workers all the health and safety information. With maintaining a safety-first culture, work runs smooth because workers are aware of hazardous tasks, there are fewer accidents meaning less downtime, and everyone can avoid conflicts during work.
Free CDM Construction Phase Plan Template
Use this CDM CPP format for yourself
How to Ensure Effectiveness and Regulatory Adherence of a CPP as per CDM 2015?
Implementing the CPP On-site
There are several methods and documents that ensure effective communication of the CPP on-site and maintain regular compliance with CDM 2015. These are site inductions, toolbox talks, utilising signages and visuals of critical safety information that even caters to workers with limited English proficiency, and fostering open feedback channels.
Regular Reviews and Updates of the CPP
The CPP is a dynamic document, meaning it is a living document that needs to be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it stays relevant and effective. The principal contractor is responsible for making sure that the CPP is always up-to-date, reflecting any changes in the project or any newly identified risks.
To give more context, the CPP must be reviewed before construction begins, just to make sure that it covers any possible and foreseeable risks. It should also be reviewed when there are design changes, changes in any of the work methods, or if any new contractors or key persons are joining the construction project. Near misses and accidents are unfortunately bound to happen, so if any of them occur, the CPP must also be reviewed and updated. The principal contractor should update the risk assessment, identify the causes, and improve their safety measures and regulations on site to prevent incidents from happening again. Even if the weather changes or unexpected hazards are discovered, the CPP must still be reviewed and updated. Aside from all these, the client, principal contractor, designer, and workers must conduct meetings to assess if the CPP are still effective. They are usually discussed in toolbox talks and safety meetings.
Essential Digital Documentation of the CPP for CDM 2015 Compliance
It’s been mentioned that the CPP must always be reviewed and updated, so it’s important to have a proper documentation process and management of the CPP, and updated versions readily accessible to all duty holders.
To regularly comply with CDM 2015 and for the CPP to stay relevant and effective, the key duty holders must utilise digital documentation of the CPP and digital tools to streamline the entire process, from creating a digital CPP that can hold multiple versions, to be accessed and shared in a document system, to update digitally and keep track of version history, and up until to having mobile access for site workers via an app. That’s how Dashpivot can come into the picture, providing a seamless CPP management while maintaining compliance with CDM 2015.
If you’re a principal contractor handling many projects, thus also having multiple CPPs to track, you can easily do so with a Construction Phase Plan app and software. Create digital CPPs, safely keep them in a centralised database, update them whenever you need to, easily access via a mobile phone or tablet, keep track of the version history, and easily share the updated versions to all duty holders. This way, you won’t have to worry about tedious administrative tasks when an app can just do it for you.
Overcoming CPP Management Challenges with Digital Solutions
It can be extremely challenging to manage a CPP under the strict regulations of CDM 2015, even more so when you’re dealing with complex projects. But don’t fret, digital solutions can actually take the load off from manually dealing with updating the CPP and version. Going digital helps improve communication between duty holders, and makes it easier to comply with CDM 2015.
Workers and contractors may not have access to the latest version of the CPP, but with digital tools and a CPP app, a cloud-based document management system can make it easier to access documents via mobile phone or tablets.
Updates need to be made the moment there are changes in the design, site conditions, procedures, or even a discovery of new hazards. A CPP app is a collaborative editing tool, meaning the principal contractors can actually edit the CPP using their mobile phone or tablet. The changes and the new version is already uploaded in real-time as well. Not only do digital tools allow real-time updating, it also allows seamless information and data sharing to those who have access to the app as well.
Aside from having a CPP App, a Site Induction App and a smart Toolbox Talk App are also necessary in making sure that your construction projects are adhering to the CDM 2015 regulations and keeping the UK construction industry safe and worker-friendly.
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