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CDM 2015 Compliance Checker

Assess your project's compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 in under 5 minutes. Get a scored report with specific actions to close any gaps.

5 minutes
15 questions
UK CDM 2015
Progress 0 of 15 answered

Client Duties

CDM 2015 Part 2, Regulations 4-7
Question 1 of 15
Has the client made suitable arrangements for managing the project, including allocating sufficient time and resources?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 4(1)

Action needed: Review your project management arrangements. The client must ensure adequate time, budget and resources are allocated before work begins. Document these arrangements in writing and share them with the project team.

Urgent action required: Under Regulation 4(1), the client must make suitable arrangements for managing the project. Without this, you risk enforcement action from the HSE. Appoint a competent project manager, set a realistic programme, and document your management arrangements immediately.

Question 2 of 15
Has the client appointed a Principal Designer in writing for projects with more than one contractor?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 5(1)(a)

Action needed: If a Principal Designer has been verbally appointed but not in writing, formalise this immediately. The appointment must clearly state the role, responsibilities, and project scope. Use a formal letter or contract amendment.

Urgent action required: Regulation 5(1)(a) requires the client to appoint a Principal Designer in writing on projects involving more than one contractor. Without this appointment, the client assumes the PD duties themselves. Identify a competent designer and appoint them formally before design work progresses further.

Question 3 of 15
Has the client appointed a Principal Contractor in writing for projects with more than one contractor?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 5(1)(b)

Action needed: Ensure the Principal Contractor appointment is documented in writing, specifying the scope and duties. A verbal agreement alone is not sufficient under CDM 2015.

Urgent action required: Regulation 5(1)(b) mandates a written appointment. Without a Principal Contractor, the client assumes all PC duties, including producing the construction phase plan and managing site-level health and safety. Appoint a competent contractor in writing before construction begins.

Question 4 of 15
Has the client provided pre-construction information to every designer and contractor appointed or being considered?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 4(4)

Action needed: Review what information has been shared and identify any gaps. Pre-construction information must include existing drawings, surveys, asbestos registers, previous H&S files, and details of existing services and hazards. Ensure all parties have received it in a usable format.

Urgent action required: Regulation 4(4) obliges the client to provide pre-construction information as soon as practicable. This includes site surveys, hazard data, asbestos reports, existing structural information, and any relevant H&S file from previous work. Compile and distribute this information to all designers and contractors immediately.

Question 5 of 15
Has the client ensured that a construction phase plan is in place before the construction phase begins?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 4(5)(b)

Action needed: If a plan exists but is incomplete, ensure it covers all requirements under Schedule 3: management of the work, arrangements for controlling significant risks, site induction procedures, welfare facilities, and emergency procedures. The plan must be finalised before work starts on site.

Urgent action required: The client must not allow construction to begin without a construction phase plan. Under Regulation 4(5)(b), this is a legal requirement. The Principal Contractor (or sole contractor on single-contractor projects) must prepare this plan. It must address the items in Schedule 3 of CDM 2015.

Principal Designer Duties

CDM 2015 Part 3, Regulations 11-12
Question 6 of 15
Has the Principal Designer planned, managed and monitored the pre-construction phase, including ensuring designers comply with their duties?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 11(1)-(2)

Action needed: Strengthen the PD's oversight of the pre-construction phase. They should hold regular design coordination meetings, maintain a design risk register, and verify that all designers are identifying, eliminating, and reducing risks through design. Document this activity.

Urgent action required: The Principal Designer must actively manage the pre-construction phase, not just hold the title. Under Regulations 11(1)-(2), they must coordinate health and safety matters during design, ensure cooperation between designers, and verify that designers are fulfilling their duties under Regulation 9. Engage the PD in this role immediately.

Question 7 of 15
Has the Principal Designer identified, eliminated or controlled foreseeable risks to health and safety through the design process?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 11(4) and Regulation 9

Action needed: Apply the general principles of prevention more rigorously. Designers must follow the hierarchy: eliminate hazards, reduce risks at source, then provide information about remaining risks. Maintain a design risk register and ensure all significant risks have been addressed.

Urgent action required: Under Regulation 9, every designer (coordinated by the PD) must eliminate foreseeable risks where possible, reduce risks through design changes, and provide information about residual risks. Begin a formal design risk assessment process immediately. The hierarchy of risk control must be applied to all design decisions.

Question 8 of 15
Has the Principal Designer prepared, reviewed or updated the health and safety file for the project?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 12(5)

Action needed: Review the existing H&S file for completeness. It must contain information needed for future construction, maintenance, refurbishment or demolition. Include as-built drawings, details of hidden services, materials used (especially hazardous materials), and relevant design and risk information.

Urgent action required: The H&S file is a legal requirement under Regulation 12(5). The PD must prepare this file during the project, update it with information from contractors, and hand it to the client at completion. Start compiling it now. Include: as-built drawings, structural details, services layout, hazardous materials, maintenance requirements, and residual risk information.

Principal Contractor Duties

CDM 2015 Part 3, Regulations 13-14
Question 9 of 15
Has the Principal Contractor prepared a construction phase plan that covers the key elements required by Schedule 3?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 12(1)-(2) and Schedule 3

Action needed: Check the construction phase plan against Schedule 3 requirements. It must cover: a description of the project, management structure, health and safety goals, site rules, arrangements for controlling significant site risks (working at height, excavations, temporary works, etc.), welfare provisions, site induction, and emergency procedures.

Urgent action required: Construction must not commence without a compliant construction phase plan. Under Regulation 12, the PC must draw up a plan that covers all Schedule 3 elements before any work begins. This is a fundamental legal requirement and the HSE will look for this document during any inspection.

Question 10 of 15
Does the Principal Contractor provide a suitable site induction to every worker before they carry out construction work?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 13(4)(b)

Action needed: Strengthen your site induction process. Every worker, including subcontractor operatives and visitors, must receive an induction covering: site hazards, emergency procedures, welfare facilities, reporting procedures, and any site-specific rules. Keep signed records of all inductions.

Urgent action required: Under Regulation 13(4)(b), no person may carry out construction work unless they have received a suitable site induction. Implement an induction programme immediately. Cover site-specific hazards, emergency exits and procedures, first aid, welfare, prohibited areas, PPE requirements, and how to report concerns. Record all inductions.

Question 11 of 15
Has the Principal Contractor ensured that adequate welfare facilities are provided and maintained on site?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 13(7) and Schedule 2

Action needed: Audit your welfare provisions against Schedule 2 requirements. You must provide: flushing toilets, hot and cold running water, drying and changing rooms, rest areas with seating and heating, drinking water, and secure storage for personal belongings. All facilities must be kept clean and maintained throughout the project.

Urgent action required: Welfare facilities are mandatory under Schedule 2 and must be available from day one of the construction phase. This includes toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas with seating, changing rooms, and lockers. The HSE takes welfare provision very seriously and inadequate facilities are a common enforcement trigger.

Question 12 of 15
Are all workers on site suitably trained, competent, and supervised for the work they are carrying out?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 13(2) and Regulation 15

Action needed: Audit training records and CSCS/equivalent cards for all workers and subcontractors. Ensure adequate supervision is in place for less experienced workers and high-risk activities. Maintain a register of competencies and qualifications on site.

Urgent action required: CDM 2015 requires that any person carrying out construction work has the necessary skills, knowledge, training and experience, or is under appropriate supervision. Review all operatives on site, check CSCS cards and relevant qualifications, and increase supervision levels where there are gaps. Do not allow unqualified workers to carry out specialist or high-risk tasks.

Documentation and Ongoing Compliance

CDM 2015, Regulations 4, 8, 12, Schedule 3-4
Question 13 of 15
Has an F10 notification been submitted to the HSE for projects lasting longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers, or exceeding 500 person-days?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 6 and Schedule 1

Action needed: If the project meets notification thresholds but the F10 has not been updated, amend and resubmit it. The F10 must be displayed in the site office and kept up to date with any changes to duty holders or project details. Submit online via the HSE website.

Urgent action required: If the project meets the thresholds in Schedule 1 (more than 30 working days and more than 20 workers at any one time, or more than 500 person-days), an F10 notification must be submitted to the HSE as soon as practicable before the construction phase begins. Submit this immediately via the HSE website and display a copy on site.

Question 14 of 15
Are there arrangements for consulting and engaging with workers on health and safety matters on the project?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 14(1)-(2)

Action needed: Improve worker engagement. Hold regular toolbox talks, maintain a suggestion or concern reporting system, and conduct periodic safety briefings. Workers should feel confident raising health and safety concerns without fear of repercussion. Document all engagement activities.

Urgent action required: Regulation 14 requires the PC to consult and engage with workers and their representatives on H&S matters. Implement regular toolbox talks, set up a method for workers to report concerns, appoint worker safety representatives where appropriate, and hold site-wide safety briefings. This is essential for a positive safety culture and is a legal duty.

Question 15 of 15
Is there a system for cooperation and coordination between all duty holders (client, PD, PC, designers, contractors) throughout the project?
Ref: CDM 2015, Regulation 8

Action needed: Review your communication channels between duty holders. Establish regular progress meetings that include H&S as a standing agenda item. Use a shared document system for risk registers, method statements and design changes. Ensure all parties understand their CDM roles and interfaces.

Urgent action required: Regulation 8 requires all duty holders to cooperate, coordinate and communicate with each other. Without this, critical safety information can fall through the gaps. Set up a formal coordination framework: scheduled meetings, shared documentation, clear communication channels, and defined interfaces between the PD, PC, designers and contractors.

Answer all 15 questions to see your results

CDM 2015 Compliance Score
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