Construction (design and management) regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
The Service Provider (SP) must comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) for all construction projects carried out on behalf of the county council. The county council will ensure that it fulfills its duties by co-operating with the SP and providing all necessary information to enable the SP to carry out their duties (see below)
If the SP feels that compliance with the requirements of the regulations could be compromised because the funding and/or timescale and/or information for the project is inadequate they should write to Oxfordshire County Council Corporate Landlord (OCCCL)
CDM applies to the whole construction process on all construction projects, from concept to completion.
A project is notifiable if the construction work on a construction site is scheduled to:
(a) last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project; or
(b) exceed 500 person days.
For notifiable projects the SP must ensure that the initial notification F10 is completed, signed by OCCCL on behalf of the council, and sent to the health and safety executive as soon as possible after their appointment. Any additional information should be sent when this is available. The HSE have given approval that the SP Principal Designer can sign the F10 on behalf of the client if he is satisfied that the client is aware of their duties.
For design and build projects the SP must be satisfied that the appointed contractor, or the contractors appointed consultants, are competent to act as principle designer and principal contractor.
The appointment of the principal contractor is to be in accordance with the requirements outlined in note Selection, monitoring and control of contractors
For further guidance see Contract procedure rules (Property & Facilities) and Construction Health & Safety Legislation
On notifiable projects the SP must arrange for a Health and Safety File to be provided at or prior to the handover meeting. The file must contain information about the current project likely to be needed to ensure health and safety during any subsequent work, such as maintenance, cleaning, refurbishment or demolition. Receipt of the Health and Safety File will be acknowledged by the Head of the Establishment by signing of the relevant part of the Project checklist. Practical completion may be delayed until such time as the information to be included in the Health and Safety. Checks must be made when planning any future alterations or adaptations to existing Oxfordshire County Council buildings or building services to determine whether an existing health and safety file exists. Details of actual changes must then be included in the existing file or a new file issued.
The following information is to be retained by the SP:
- Details of materials used or copy of specification (main contract file)
- As built drawings (include in the drawing record system (see note Records management)
- Building Manuals, Health and Safety File and Building Log Book (an electronic record)
- CDM documentation (main contract file)
Checks must be made when planning to buy or sell a property to determine whether an existing health and safety file exists. A copy of existing health and safety files must be included within the sale documentation. A record of health and safety files that exist for Oxfordshire County Council buildings is held by the Property and Facilities, Health and Safety Officer.
The HSE Guidance document (L153) for CDM 2015 provides information for those who have legal duties in respect of construction projects. This document summarises the key roles and responsibilities made under CDM 2015, as well as providing a signpost to more detailed information contained within L153 and industry guidance via hyperlinks contained throughout the document.
Pre-design information
1. Project brief
The specific project brief will outline the requirements of the service directorate with regard to the project and should be read in conjunction with any briefs and other information within the providers manual. For details of vandalism issues relating to existing sites discussions should take place with the head of establishment.
2. Building records
Ownership
SP will need to check that the land is owned by OCC and whether it is subject to restrictive covenants which affect the potential or planned use.
Existing health and safety files / building manuals
Existing health and safety files are only available at sites where the work was carried out. Guidance on the supply or updating of health and safety files is covered in note Building manuals and log books A1/036.
Asbestos
All county council buildings have been subject to a management survey. All details related to asbestos are held on the OCCCL SHINE database and in an asbestos management folder held at the site. For major work affecting existing buildings it is likely that a refurbishment and demolition survey will be required. Guidance on the management of asbestos in county buildings is covered in Asbestos management.
Water hygiene
All county council buildings have been subject to a risk assessment regarding the hot and cold water services at the site. Details of the risk assessment and management actions are contained in a water service hygiene manual held at the site. Guidance on the management of water hygiene issues at county council sites is covered in Water service hygiene legionellosis and scalding.
Fire safety
All county council sites have been issued with a Fire Safety Policy & Fire Safety Logbook to record details of the management procedures regarding fire safety that are applicable to the site.
3. Drawing records
Details of any archived construction records for past building projects, floor plans, survey drawings etc can be obtained from OCCCL
4. Location of existing main services
Details of gas, electric, water etc should be obtained from the utility suppliers. Copies of gas line diagrams applicable to the site should be available on site.
5. Building/ site conditions
Checks should be made with OCCCL to determine if any information is available regarding structures and ground conditions at the site.
6. Contaminated land
Checks should be made with OCCCL to determine if any records exist regarding contaminated land at the site.
7. Dangerous substances/ materials/ sources
Checks should be made with the head of establishment to identify any areas on the site where dangerous substances/ materials/ sources may have been used or stored.
8. Equipment
Checks should be made with the head of establishment to identify any equipment being used on the site that could represent a risk to contractors working on the site.
9. Invasive plants
Surveys should be carried out of areas where new construction work is to take place to identify any invasive plants that may be present. Guidance on the control of invasive plants is covered in Invasive plants.
10. Radon gas
Contact must be made with either the relevant Building Control office or the Health Protection Agency to determine the level of radon protection required for a construction project and whether a geological survey will be necessary. Refer to OCC Radon safety policy
11. Telecommunication base stations
The county council has several sites where telecommunication base stations have been installed. Any construction work that is likely to take place local to these base stations must be properly managed. Guidance on the management procedures and the location of such base stations is covered in Telecommunication base stations (under review).
12. Access to site
On occupied sites discussions must take place with OCCCL and the head of establishment to identify any local safety issues regarding access to the site and the movement of construction traffic and deliveries. Safety issues regarding the activities on adjacent land should also be discussed.
13. Site activities
Discussions must take place with the head of establishment where work is to take place on occupied sites to plan for the managing of the construction work, the movement of construction traffic and deliveries, parking and site areas and to establish a good means of communication and liaison between other site users and the principal contractor. During school holiday period's activities such as summer play school groups must be identified.
14. Resources
As the client OCCCL must ensure that adequate resources such as funding and timescale are made available for the project. The timescale must also allow adequate timing for the planning of the project and for the contractor to develop the construction phase health and safety plan. If the SP feels that compliance with the requirements of the construction (design and management) regulations would be compromised because the funding and/or timescale and/or information for the project is inadequate they put their concerns in writing to the OCCCL service manager.