The CDM Regulations recognize the influence and importance of the Client as head of the project supply chain and as the party best placed to set standards throughout a project.
Because CDM 2015 has removed the role of CDM Co-ordinator the Client no longer has a key advisor via statute on matters relating to construction health and safety and risk management. This means there will be increased health and safety responsibilities on Clients, which potentially places them with a greater burden of time, risk and cost. CDM 2015 also makes Clients responsible for some of the duties that were previously undertaken by the CDM Co-ordinator. In accordance with CDM 2015 Clients must:
With the exception of assisting the Client provide Pre-Construction Information none of these duties fall onto the Principal Designer, therefore the Client remains legally responsible for ensuring the relevant duties are effectively discharged without there being a statutory advisor within the framework of the Regulations to assist them. This means there will be increased legal responsibilities on Clients, which potentially places them with a greater burden of time, risk and cost. As CDM Advisors we can assist Clients with discharging the reinforced duties they have under CDM 2015, ideally from being appointed at the earliest opportunity during the pre-construction phase, as this is a critical period when some of the key decisions that affect health and safety management arrangements will be made, particularly those that relate to design and risk management considerations.
