News Item
28/11/2006 - Health & 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.
