The CDM Regulations are aimed at improving the overall management of health, safety and welfare throughout all stages of the construction project.

The person requesting that construction work commence, the client, must first of all appoint a duty holder , someone who has a duty of care for health, safety and welfare matters on site. This person will be called a planning supervisor . The planning supervisor must produce a pre-tender health and safety plan and co-ordinate and manage this plan during the early stages of construction.

The client must also appoint a principal contractor who is then required to develop the health and safety plan made by the planning supervisor, and keep it up to date during the construction process to completion.

The degree of detail in the health and safety plan should be in proportion to the size of the construction project and recognize the health and safety risks involved on that particular project. Small projects will require simple straightforward plans, large projects, or those involving significant risk, will require more detail. The CDM Regulations will apply to most large construction projects but they do not apply to the following:

• Construction work, other than demolition work, that does not last longer than 30 days and does not involve more than four people.

• Construction work carried out inside commercial buildings such as shops and offices, which does not interrupt the normal activities carried out on those premises.

• Construction work carried out for a...