UK Statutory Instrument 2015 United Kingdom

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

At a glance

Enforced by

HSE

What's here

319 compliance obligations, 26 practical guides across 2 topics · 11 journeys

Penalty landscape

290 of 319 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 29 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Contractor 215
  • Client 53
  • Designer 27
  • Any Person 11
  • Director or Officer 6
  • Employer 4
  • Responsible Person 1
  • Operator 1

Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Contractors also bound by 56 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Clients also bound by 30 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Designers also bound by 6 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Employers also bound by 171 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Responsible Persons also bound by 56 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Operators also bound by 125 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — Introduction

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 2 — Client duties

s.004

Client duties in relation to managing projects

2 years imprisonment
  • Arrange, monitor and maintain health & safety for construction projects Client
  • Manage construction project and ensure health and safety throughout Client
  • Manage construction project health and safety throughout Client
  • Manage construction project safely and keep health‑and‑safety information up‑to‑date Client
  • Manage construction projects safely and provide required information Client
  • Manage construction projects safely and provide site resources Client
  • Manage construction project to ensure health & safety and provide required information Client
  • Manage health and safety for construction projects Client
  • Manage health and safety for the construction project Client
  • Manage health and safety for your construction project Client
  • Manage health and safety of construction project Client
  • Manage health and safety of construction projects Client
  • Manage health and safety throughout the construction project Client
  • Manage health & safety of construction projects Client
s.006

Notification

2 years imprisonment
  • Notify HSE (or appropriate authority) of notifiable construction projects Client
  • Notify HSE (or relevant authority) of notifiable construction projects Client
  • Notify HSE (or relevant authority) of notifiable construction projects before work starts Client
  • Notify HSE (or relevant regulator) of notifiable construction projects Client
  • Notify relevant authority of notifiable construction projects before work starts Client
  • Notify the appropriate authority of notifiable construction projects Client
  • Notify the relevant authority of notifiable construction projects Client
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 3 — Health and safety duties and roles

s.008

General duties

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure competence of designers and contractors and cooperate on site safety Client
  • Ensure competence and cooperation in construction projects Director or Officer
  • Ensure competence and cooperation of all project parties Client
  • Ensure competence and cooperation of designers and contractors Client
  • Ensure competence and cooperation of designers, contractors and others Any Person
  • Ensure competence and safe collaboration on construction projects Contractor
  • Ensure competence and safe cooperation of designers and contractors Any Person
  • Ensure competence before undertaking design or construction work Employer
  • Ensure competence, cooperation and clear communication for health and safety Any Person
  • Ensure competence, cooperation and clear communication on construction projects Designer
  • Ensure competence, cooperation and clear information on construction projects Designer
  • Ensure competence, cooperation and clear safety information on construction projects Designer
  • Ensure competence, verification and safe communication for designers and contractors Employer
  • Verify competence and ensure cooperation of designers and contractors Client
s.009

Duties of designers

2 years imprisonment
  • Design out health and safety risks in construction projects Designer
  • Design safely and provide risk information to the principal designer Designer
  • Design safely and share health‑and‑safety information Designer
  • Design safely and supply health‑and‑safety information Designer
  • Design safely and supply risk information for construction projects Designer
  • Design safe structures and provide health‑and‑safety information Designer
  • Design to eliminate/control risks and supply safety information Designer
  • Design to eliminate or control health & safety risks Designer
  • Design to eliminate or control health & safety risks and provide safety information Designer
  • Design to remove or control foreseeable health and safety risks Designer
  • Design with health & safety in mind and pass risk information Designer
  • Eliminate or control fire risks in designs and share information Designer
  • Eliminate or control health and safety risks in your designs Designer
  • Eliminate or control safety risks through design Designer
  • Identify and manage design risks and provide safety information Designer
  • Integrate health and safety into designs and supply required information Designer
  • Manage health & safety risks when designing construction projects Designer
s.011

Duties of a principal designer in relation to health and safety at the pre-construction phase

2 years imprisonment
  • Plan, manage and coordinate health & safety in pre‑construction Designer
  • Plan, manage and monitor health and safety in pre‑construction Designer
  • Plan, manage and monitor health and safety in the pre‑construction phase Designer
  • Plan, manage and monitor health & safety in pre‑construction Designer
  • Plan, manage and monitor health & safety in the pre‑construction phase Designer
  • Plan, manage and monitor pre‑construction health and safety Designer
  • Plan, manage and monitor pre‑construction health & safety Designer
  • Principal designer: manage health and safety during pre-construction Director or Officer
  • Principal designer: Plan and coordinate health and safety before construction Director or Officer
s.012

Construction phase plan and health and safety file

2 years imprisonment
  • Create and keep up‑to‑date construction phase plan Contractor
  • Create and maintain a construction phase plan and health and safety file Director or Officer
  • Maintain construction phase plan and health & safety file Contractor
  • Prepare and keep up‑date construction phase plan and health‑safety file Contractor
  • Prepare and keep up‑to‑date a construction phase plan Contractor
  • Prepare and keep up‑to‑date construction phase plan and health‑safety file Contractor
  • Prepare and keep up to date the construction phase plan and health & safety file Contractor
  • Prepare and maintain construction phase plan and health & safety file Contractor
  • Prepare and maintain the construction phase plan Contractor
  • Prepare, keep up‑to‑date and hand over construction phase plan and health‑safety file Contractor
  • Prepare, maintain and hand over construction phase plan & safety file Contractor
  • Prepare, maintain and update construction phase plan and health & safety file Contractor
s.014

Principal contractor's duties to consult and engage with workers

2 years imprisonment
  • Consult and engage with construction workers on health and safety Director or Officer
  • Consult and engage with workers on health and safety Contractor
  • Consult and engage with workers on health & safety Contractor
  • Consult and engage workers on health and safety Contractor
  • Consult and engage workers on health, safety and welfare Contractor
  • Consult and involve workers on health and safety Contractor
s.015

Duties of contractors

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure health and safety of construction work Contractor
  • Ensure health and safety throughout construction work Contractor
  • Manage health and safety duties as a construction contractor Contractor
  • Manage health and safety for construction work Contractor
  • Manage health and safety on construction sites Contractor
  • Plan, manage and monitor construction work to protect health and safety Contractor
  • Plan, manage and monitor health and safety during construction Contractor
  • Plan, manage and monitor health and safety for construction work Contractor
  • Plan, manage and monitor health and safety on construction sites Contractor
  • Plan, manage and monitor health & safety on construction sites Contractor
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 4 — General requirements for all construction sites

s.016

Application of Part 4

2 years imprisonment
  • Apply Part 4 safety rules when working on a construction site Contractor
  • Comply with CDM 2015 Part 4 health and safety requirements Contractor
  • Comply with CDM Part 4 duties that apply to you Contractor
  • Comply with CDM Part 4 health and safety requirements Contractor
  • Comply with CDM Part 4 health & safety requirements Employer
  • Comply with CDM Part 4 requirements for matters you control Client
  • Comply with CDM Part 4 requirements on construction sites Contractor
  • Comply with CDM Part 4 requirements relevant to your role Contractor
  • Comply with construction site safety standards Contractor
  • Comply with fire safety rules in Part 4 Contractor
  • Comply with Part 4 CDM duties on construction sites Contractor
  • Comply with Part 4 health and safety requirements on construction sites Employer
  • Comply with Part 4 requirements for construction work Contractor
  • Comply with Part 4 rules for construction sites Any Person
  • Follow Part 4 of the CDM Regulations for matters under your control Contractor
s.017

Safe places of construction work

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure construction sites are safe and have sufficient working space Any Person
  • Ensure safe access, egress and working space on site Contractor
  • Ensure the construction site is safe and has adequate access Contractor
  • Provide and maintain safe access, egress and working space on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide safe access, egress and working space on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide safe access, egress and working space on site Contractor
s.018

Good order and site security

2 years imprisonment
  • Keep construction site clean, secure and free of hazardous protruding nails Contractor
  • Keep construction site clean, secure and free of hazards Contractor
  • Keep construction site orderly, clean and safe Contractor
  • Keep construction site tidy, clean and clearly secured Client
  • Keep construction site tidy, clean and secure Contractor
  • Keep construction site tidy, secure and free of sharp hazards Contractor
  • Keep site tidy, clearly marked and free of protruding nails Contractor
  • Keep the construction site tidy, clean and securely marked Contractor
  • Keep the construction site tidy, clearly marked and free of hazardous nails Contractor
  • Keep the construction site tidy, clearly marked and free of protruding nails Contractor
  • Maintain good order, cleanliness and safety on construction site Contractor
  • Maintain good order, cleanliness and secure site boundaries Contractor
  • Maintain good order, cleanliness and security on construction sites Contractor
  • Maintain site order, cleanliness, and security Contractor
  • Maintain site order, security and remove hazardous protruding nails Contractor
s.019

Stability of structures

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure stability of structures and temporary works Contractor
  • Ensure stability of structures during construction Contractor
  • Ensure structures don’t collapse and temporary supports are safe Contractor
  • Ensure structures remain stable during construction Contractor
  • Ensure structures remain stable during construction work Contractor
  • Ensure structures stay stable and safe during construction Contractor
  • Ensure structures stay stable during construction Contractor
  • Ensure the stability of new and existing structures Contractor
  • Keep structures stable and prevent collapse during construction Contractor
  • Prevent collapse of structures and manage temporary works Contractor
  • Prevent collapse of structures during construction Contractor
  • Prevent collapse of structures during construction work Contractor
s.020

Demolition or dismantling

2 years imprisonment
  • Plan and document demolition/dismantling safely Contractor
  • Plan and document demolition/dismantling work safely Contractor
  • Plan and document demolition work safely Contractor
  • Plan and document safe demolition or dismantling Contractor
  • Plan and document safe demolition or dismantling work Contractor
  • Plan and document safe demolition work Contractor
  • Plan and record demolition/dismantling safely Contractor
  • Plan and record demolition or dismantling safety arrangements Contractor
  • Plan and record safe demolition or dismantling Client
  • Plan demolition safely and keep written arrangements Contractor
  • Plan, manage and document demolition work safely Contractor
  • Plan, manage and record demolition work safely Contractor
s.021

Explosives

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure safe storage and use of explosives on site Responsible Person
  • Ensure safe storage, transport, and use of explosives Contractor
  • Manage safe storage, transport and use of explosives Contractor
  • Safely store, transport and use explosives Contractor
  • Store, transport and use explosives safely Contractor
  • Store, transport and use explosives safely and protect people Contractor
  • Store, transport and use explosives safely and securely Contractor
s.022

Excavations

2 years imprisonment
  • Inspect excavations before each shift and after any incident Contractor
  • Keep excavations safe and inspect before work Contractor
  • Ensure excavation safety before and during work Contractor
  • Ensure excavations are safe and inspected before work Contractor
  • Ensure excavation stability and safety Contractor
  • Ensure safe excavations and carry out inspections Contractor
  • Ensure safe excavations and carry out required inspections Client
  • Ensure safe excavations and inspect before work starts Contractor
  • Ensure safe excavations and obtain competent inspections Contractor
  • Ensure safe excavation works and carry out required inspections Contractor
  • Ensure safety and prevent collapses during excavation work Contractor
  • Ensure safety of excavations and carry out required inspections Contractor
  • Keep excavations safe and regularly inspected Contractor
  • Prevent collapse and falling material in excavations Contractor
  • Prevent excavation collapse and ensure competent inspection Contractor
  • Secure excavations and inspect before work starts Contractor
s.023

Cofferdams and caissons

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safe and inspected regularly Contractor
  • Ensure safe design, maintenance and inspection of cofferdams and caissons Contractor
  • Inspect and maintain cofferdams and caissons before use Contractor
  • Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safe and inspected before use Contractor
  • Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safe before use Contractor
  • Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safe for use Contractor
  • Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safely designed, inspected and maintained Client
  • Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safe to use Contractor
  • Ensure safe design, equipment, maintenance and inspection of cofferdams/caissons Contractor
  • Ensure safe design, inspection and use of cofferdams and caissons Contractor
  • Ensure safe design, maintenance and inspection of cofferdams/caissons Contractor
s.024

Reports of inspections

2 years imprisonment
  • Keep and provide inspection reports for construction work Client
  • Keep and provide inspection reports to HSE Client
  • Keep inspection reports and make them available to HSE Client
  • Keep inspection reports for HSE review Client
  • Keep inspection reports on site and give copies to HSE on request Client
  • Keep inspection reports on site and provide them to HSE on request Client
  • Maintain and provide inspection reports for construction work Client
  • Report and record site inspection safety risks Any Person
  • Retain and make inspection reports available to HSE Client
  • Keep and provide inspection reports for demolition/dismantling work Client
  • Keep and share inspection reports with HSE Client
  • Keep and supply inspection risk reports Client
  • Prepare and keep inspection reports for unsafe construction work Client
  • Prepare and keep records of unsafe site inspections Any Person
  • Prepare and retain inspection reports for fire safety inspections Any Person
  • Prepare, submit and keep inspection reports for unsafe work Contractor
  • Prepare, supply and retain inspection reports for unsafe work Client
s.025

Energy distribution installations

2 years imprisonment
  • Control risks from overhead and underground energy installations Contractor
  • Ensure safe handling of energy distribution installations Contractor
  • Manage energy distribution installations on construction sites Contractor
  • Manage risks from energy distribution installations on site Contractor
  • Manage risks from overhead and underground energy installations on construction sites Contractor
  • Manage safety of energy distribution installations Contractor
  • Manage safety of energy distribution installations on site Contractor
  • Safeguard against hazards from energy distribution and overhead power lines Contractor
  • Safely manage energy distribution and overhead/underground services Contractor
s.026

Prevention of drowning

2 years imprisonment
  • Prevent drowning and ensure safe water transport on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent drowning and ensure safe water transport on site Contractor
  • Prevent drowning and provide rescue equipment on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent drowning and provide rescue equipment on site Contractor
  • Prevent drowning and provide rescue measures on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent drowning on construction sites Any Person
  • Prevent drowning risk in construction work near water Client
  • Prevent drowning risks and provide rescue equipment on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent drowning risks on construction sites Contractor
s.027

Traffic routes

2 years imprisonment
  • Design and maintain safe traffic routes on construction sites Contractor
  • Ensure safe traffic routes for pedestrians and vehicles Contractor
  • Ensure safe traffic routes for pedestrians and vehicles on site Contractor
  • Ensure safe traffic routes on construction sites Contractor
  • Organise and maintain safe traffic routes on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide safe, clearly sign‑posted traffic routes on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide safe traffic routes for site pedestrians and vehicles Contractor
  • Provide safe traffic routes on construction sites Contractor
s.028

Vehicles

2 years imprisonment
  • Control and operate construction vehicles safely Contractor
  • Control and use vehicles safely on construction sites Contractor
  • Control vehicle movement and ensure safe use on construction sites Contractor
  • Control vehicle movement and ensure safe use on site Contractor
  • Control vehicle movement and protect people on site Contractor
  • Ensure safe use and control of construction vehicles Contractor
  • Ensure safe use and control of vehicles on construction sites Client
  • Ensure safe use of vehicles on construction sites Contractor
  • Ensure safe vehicle operation and prevent site movement accidents Operator
  • Manage vehicle safety on construction sites Contractor
s.029

Prevention of risk from fire, flooding or asphyxiation

2 years imprisonment
  • Prevent fire, flood and asphyxiation on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent fire, flood and asphyxiation risks during construction Contractor
  • Prevent fire, flood and asphyxiation risks on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent fire, flood and asphyxiation risks on construction work Client
  • Prevent fire, flooding and asphyxiation risks on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent fire, flooding and asphyxiation risks on site Contractor
  • Prevent fire, flood or asphyxiation risks on construction sites Contractor
  • Prevent fire, flood or asphyxiation risks on site Contractor
  • Prevent risks from fire, flooding, and asphyxiation on site Any Person
s.030

Emergency procedures

2 years imprisonment
  • Arrange and test emergency procedures on construction sites Contractor
  • Create and maintain emergency and evacuation procedures Contractor
  • Develop and maintain emergency procedures for construction sites Contractor
  • Establish and maintain emergency procedures for construction sites Client
  • Establish and test emergency and evacuation procedures for construction sites Contractor
  • Prepare and maintain emergency procedures for construction sites Contractor
  • Prepare and maintain emergency procedures for the construction site Contractor
  • Provide and maintain emergency procedures on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide and test emergency procedures on construction site Contractor
  • Put in place and test emergency procedures for construction sites Contractor
  • Put in place and test emergency procedures on construction sites Contractor
  • Put in place and test emergency procedures on the construction site Contractor
  • Put in place, train on and regularly test emergency procedures Contractor
s.031

Emergency routes and exits

2 years imprisonment
  • Provide and keep clear emergency routes and exits Contractor
  • Provide and maintain adequate emergency routes and exits Contractor
  • Provide and maintain clear emergency routes and exits Contractor
  • Provide and maintain clear, signed emergency routes and exits Contractor
  • Provide and maintain emergency routes and exits on site Client
  • Provide and maintain safe emergency routes and exits Contractor
  • Provide clear, unobstructed emergency routes and exits Contractor
s.032

Fire detection and fire-fighting

2 years imprisonment
  • Provide and maintain fire detection and fighting equipment Contractor
  • Provide and maintain fire detection and fire-fighting equipment Any Person
  • Provide and maintain fire detection and firefighting equipment Contractor
  • Provide and maintain fire‑fighting equipment and alarms Contractor
  • Provide and maintain fire‑fighting equipment and alarms on site Contractor
  • Provide and maintain fire detection and fighting equipment on site Contractor
  • Provide and maintain fire detection, fighting equipment and training Contractor
  • Provide, maintain and train for fire detection and fire‑fighting Contractor
s.033

Fresh air

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure sufficient fresh air and ventilation on construction sites Contractor
  • Ensure construction sites have sufficient fresh air Contractor
  • Ensure sufficient fresh air and safe ventilation on site Client
  • Ensure sufficient fresh air and safe ventilation plant Contractor
  • Provide adequate fresh air and safe ventilation on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide adequate fresh air and safe ventilation plant on site Contractor
  • Provide adequate fresh air and ventilation on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and alarm‑equipped ventilation on site Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and alarm for ventilation plant failures Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and safe ventilation on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and safe ventilation plant Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and safe ventilation plant on site Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and warning‑enabled plant on site Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and warn of plant failures Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air and warn of ventilation plant failure Contractor
  • Provide sufficient fresh air on construction sites Contractor
s.034

Temperature and weather protection

2 years imprisonment
  • Ensure reasonable indoor temperature and protect outdoor workers from bad weather Contractor
  • Ensure reasonable indoor temperature and protect workers from adverse weather Contractor
  • Ensure reasonable temperature and protect workers from bad weather Contractor
  • Maintain reasonable indoor temperature and protect workers from bad weather Contractor
  • Maintain reasonable temperature and protect workers from adverse weather Contractor
  • Maintain reasonable temperature and weather protection on site Contractor
  • Provide reasonable indoor temperature and outdoor weather protection Contractor
  • Provide reasonable indoor temperature and protect workers from adverse weather Contractor
  • Provide reasonable indoor temperatures and weather protection on site Client
  • Provide reasonable temperature and weather protection Contractor
  • Provide reasonable temperature and weather protection on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide reasonable temperature and weather protection on site Contractor
  • Provide temperature and weather protection for workers Contractor
s.035

Lighting

2 years imprisonment
  • Provide suitable lighting and emergency backup on site Contractor
  • Provide adequate lighting for construction sites Contractor
  • Provide adequate lighting for construction sites and routes Contractor
  • Provide adequate lighting on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide suitable and sufficient lighting on construction sites Contractor
  • Provide suitable lighting and backup lighting on site Contractor
  • Provide suitable lighting for construction site and traffic routes Contractor
  • Provide suitable lighting for construction sites and routes Contractor
  • Provide suitable lighting for the construction site and routes Client
  • Provide suitable lighting on construction sites Contractor

Part 5 — General

s.039

Review

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must review and report on CDM Regulations every five years Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

Browse 2 other Schedules — structural / supplementary

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

HSE

Health and Safety Executive

Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …

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