SSSTS CDM 2015 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the health and safety file under CDM 2015, and who is responsible for preparing it?
- A personal file for each worker, prepared by HR
- A record of information useful for future construction, maintenance, or demolition work, prepared by the principal designer and passed to the client on completion (Correct answer)
- A financial record of safety expenditure, prepared by the quantity surveyor
- A list of accidents, prepared by the site manager
Correct answer: A record of information useful for future construction, maintenance, or demolition work, prepared by the principal designer and passed to the client on completion
The health and safety file (Regulation 12(5)) contains information relevant to future construction, maintenance, renovation, or demolition work. The principal designer prepares and reviews it during the project. On completion, it is passed to the client, who must keep it available for future use.
Question 2: Under CDM 2015, what duties does a contractor (not the principal contractor) have?
- Contractors have no duties under CDM 2015
- Contractors must plan, manage, and monitor their own work, ensure workers are competent and supervised, provide welfare facilities (if not provided by others), and cooperate with the principal contractor (Correct answer)
- Contractors only need to follow the principal contractor's instructions
- Contractors only need to provide materials
Correct answer: Contractors must plan, manage, and monitor their own work, ensure workers are competent and supervised, provide welfare facilities (if not provided by others), and cooperate with the principal contractor
Under CDM 2015 Regulation 15, contractors must plan, manage, and monitor their own work to ensure safety. They must ensure workers are competent, trained, and supervised. They must cooperate with the principal contractor, comply with the construction phase plan, and report to the principal contractor on safety matters.
Question 3: What is pre-construction information under CDM 2015, and who must provide it?
- Information about the cost of the project, provided by the quantity surveyor
- Information about the project, site, and any existing hazards that designers and contractors need for planning, provided by the client (Correct answer)
- Information about weather conditions, provided by the Met Office
- Information about neighbouring properties, provided by the local authority
Correct answer: Information about the project, site, and any existing hazards that designers and contractors need for planning, provided by the client
Pre-construction information (Regulation 4) is provided by the client and includes details about the project, planning conditions, the site (ground conditions, existing services, contamination), existing structures (asbestos, structural issues), and any other information relevant to health and safety that designers and contractors need.
Question 4: How does CDM 2015 apply to domestic clients (homeowners)?
- CDM 2015 does not apply to domestic projects
- Domestic clients have CDM duties, but in practice these are automatically transferred to the contractor or principal contractor unless the domestic client appoints a principal designer (Correct answer)
- Domestic clients must personally supervise all work
- Domestic clients must obtain an HSE licence
Correct answer: Domestic clients have CDM duties, but in practice these are automatically transferred to the contractor or principal contractor unless the domestic client appoints a principal designer
CDM 2015 applies to domestic projects, but domestic client duties are automatically transferred to the contractor (single contractor project) or principal contractor (multiple contractor project). Domestic clients can choose to appoint a principal designer, in which case the duty transfer differs.
Question 5: Under CDM 2015, what must a principal contractor do regarding worker consultation on health and safety?
- Worker consultation is optional
- The principal contractor must make arrangements for consulting and engaging with workers and their representatives on health and safety matters (Correct answer)
- Only trade union members need to be consulted
- Consultation only occurs at the start of the project
Correct answer: The principal contractor must make arrangements for consulting and engaging with workers and their representatives on health and safety matters
Under CDM 2015 Regulation 14, the principal contractor must make and maintain arrangements for consulting and engaging with workers (including the self-employed) on health and safety matters. This includes consulting on risk assessments, safe systems of work, welfare, and emergency arrangements.
Question 6: What happens if a project starts with one contractor and then a second contractor is appointed?
- Nothing changes — CDM duties remain the same
- The client must appoint a principal contractor and principal designer as the project now involves more than one contractor (Correct answer)
- The first contractor automatically becomes the principal contractor
- CDM 2015 does not apply to such situations
Correct answer: The client must appoint a principal contractor and principal designer as the project now involves more than one contractor
When a project involves more than one contractor, CDM 2015 requires the client to appoint a principal designer and a principal contractor. If a single-contractor project becomes a multi-contractor project, these appointments must be made promptly to ensure proper coordination of health and safety.
SSSTS CDM 2015 2
What is the health and safety file under CDM 2015, and who is responsible for preparing it?