Schools need to be aware of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, governing the management of health and safety on construction projects, which came into force on 6 th April 2007.
The purpose of CDM is to ensure that health and safety is co-ordinated and managed throughout all stages of a construction project in order to help reduce accidents, ill-health and costs. Where CDM applies, you will have legal duties to discharge (which are enforceable in a court of law).
Staffordshire County Council are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that if you appoint any persons to carry out construction works, you are deemed to have taken on the role of the Client and, as such, have duties imposed upon you by the Regulations.
Clients - Roles and responsibilities
On all projects clients will need to:
- Check competence and resources of all appointees
- Ensure there are suitable management arrangements for the project welfare facilities
- Allow sufficient time and resources for all stages
- Provide pre-construction information to designers and contractors
Where projects are notifiable under CDM 2007 (i.e. over 30 days or 500 person day's duration), clients must also:
- Appoint a CDM Co-ordinator
- Appoint a Principal Contractor
- Make sure that construction work does not start unless a construction phase plan is in place and there are adequate welfare facilities on site
- Provide information relating to the health and safety file to the CDM Co-ordinator
- Retain and provide access to the health and safety file
The above are a guide on the duties placed upon you should you take on the role of the Client.
Should you have any queries, contact CDM Co-ordinators on 01785 277678, who will be happy to provide further assistance or for more details log on to the hse website.
Please bear in mind that even small scale works may disturb areas where there is asbestos present and in these cases specialist advice will be necessary before any work starts. Costs of asbestos removal for school- funded schemes will fall to the school.