CITB Specialists CDM Regulations 2015 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under CDM 2015, what must all workers on a construction site possess?
- A CSCS card (or equivalent) demonstrating occupational competence (Correct answer)
- A full UK driving licence
- A first aid certificate
- A Basic Disclosure and Barring Service check
Correct answer: A CSCS card (or equivalent) demonstrating occupational competence
All workers on UK construction sites should hold a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card or equivalent that demonstrates their occupational training and competence. This is required by most Principal Contractors and clients.
Question 2: What must a specialist contractor do before starting work on site under CDM 2015?
- Attend a site induction covering emergency procedures, hazards, and welfare facilities (Correct answer)
- Only sign in at the site office
- Only submit their RAMS
- Only show their insurance certificate
Correct answer: Attend a site induction covering emergency procedures, hazards, and welfare facilities
Before starting work, all contractors must attend a site induction covering the emergency evacuation procedure, site hazards and rules, welfare facilities, and the Construction Phase Plan arrangements. This is a CDM 2015 and common law requirement.
Question 3: How does CDM 2015 address the coordination between specialist contractors?
- The Principal Contractor coordinates all contractors, ensuring their activities do not create risks for each other (Correct answer)
- Each contractor manages their own risks independently
- Coordination is only required when hazardous work is involved
- The client is responsible for all inter-contractor coordination
Correct answer: The Principal Contractor coordinates all contractors, ensuring their activities do not create risks for each other
The Principal Contractor has a specific CDM 2015 duty to coordinate the activities of all contractors on site, ensuring that their work does not create hazards for others and that risks from concurrent activities are identified and managed.
Question 4: What is required under CDM 2015 when a notifiable project is about to commence?
- The client must ensure an F10 notification is submitted to HSE before the construction phase begins (Correct answer)
- Only the HSE must be notified — no client action is needed
- Notification is voluntary for all projects
- Only the Principal Contractor submits the F10 without client involvement
Correct answer: The client must ensure an F10 notification is submitted to HSE before the construction phase begins
For notifiable projects, the client must ensure an F10 notification form is submitted to the HSE before the construction phase begins. The Principal Contractor typically submits the F10 on behalf of the client, but the client retains responsibility.
Question 5: Under CDM 2015, what does 'cooperation' between duty holders require?
- Sharing relevant health and safety information and working together to manage shared risks (Correct answer)
- Only attending joint safety meetings
- Only sharing RAMS documents
- Only informing each other of accidents
Correct answer: Sharing relevant health and safety information and working together to manage shared risks
CDM 2015 places a duty on all parties to cooperate with each other on health and safety matters, including sharing information about hazards, coordinating activities to prevent risks, and working together constructively to manage shared construction risks.
Question 6: What should a specialist contractor do if they believe the Principal Contractor's Construction Phase Plan is inadequate?
- Raise their concerns with the Principal Contractor and, if unresolved, with the client or HSE (Correct answer)
- Accept the plan and proceed with work
- Prepare their own Construction Phase Plan
- Only raise the issue at the post-project debrief
Correct answer: Raise their concerns with the Principal Contractor and, if unresolved, with the client or HSE
If a contractor believes the Construction Phase Plan is inadequate, they should raise their concerns formally with the Principal Contractor. If concerns are not resolved, they can escalate to the client or report to the HSE, as proceeding with inadequate plans exposes workers to preventable risks.
CITB Specialists CDM Regulations 2015 3
Under CDM 2015, what must all workers on a construction site possess?