C025:06 20 October 2006

Health And Safety Commission approves CDM Regulations

This week, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) met and approved the proposed revised Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations and Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) for formal submission to the Minister.

The Regulations will revise and bring together provisions in the existing CDM Regulations 1994 and the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 into a single regulatory package.

Speaking after the meeting, Richard Boland, Head of Construction Policy, said ''I am delighted that the revised regulatory package has been approved by the Commission. We remain on target for the Regulations coming into force in April next year. Over the last four years we have worked in partnership with the industry to simplify and add clarity to construction health and safety law so that risks on site can be properly managed. We will continue to work together to make sure that the new provisions and ACoP improve standards of health and safety management in our industry.”

At the open meeting, Commission members discussed the effect of the Regulations on small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) – particularly small clients – in light of some stakeholders' concerns. The Commission noted that the Regulations do not impose new duties on clients. They make explicit what clients should already be doing as a result of existing duties in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Clear, simple guidance for SMEs and clients is being developed by industry. This will be crucial in helping smaller clients, addressing misconceptions and alleviating concerns. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) agreed to report back to the Commission in January 2007 on progress with these issues.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local government are the enforcing authorities that work in support of the HSC. Both HSC and HSE receive specialist advice from a range of advisory committees, boards and councils.
2. The Commission Paper, discussed at the 17 October 2006 meeting, can be viewed at ww.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/hscarchive/index.htm
3. The Regulations and ACoP are contained in this paper at Annexes 5 and 6.
4. More information on HSE’s Construction Division can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm

Press enquiries

Denise Lewisohn 020 7717 6918
Out of hours 020 7928 8382

Public enquiries

HSE InfoLine 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF 83 3GG

HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/