Construction health and safety management
What the domain tests
This domain examines how construction health and safety is planned, organised and reviewed. Expect questions on CDM 2015 dutyholder roles, construction phase plans, notification, competence, worker consultation and risk assessment. The exam wants the legal duty and the practical management action, not just a list of documents.
Core rules
- CDM 2015 key dutyholders are the client, principal designer, principal contractor, designers and contractors.
- A project is notifiable to HSE using form F10 when construction work lasts more than 30 working days and more than 20 workers are simultaneously on site at any point, or exceeds 500 person-days.
- The client must appoint a principal designer and principal contractor in writing where there is more than one contractor, and must ensure a construction phase plan exists before work starts.
- The principal contractor prepares the construction phase plan, coordinates the site, provides welfare and consults workers. The principal designer prepares the health and safety file.
- Risk assessment follows the five-step approach and the hierarchy of control, starting with elimination.
Worked example
A client appoints a contractor to refurbish a shop but does not appoint a principal designer. Work begins without a construction phase plan. The project has two contractors and lasts six weeks. The client has not met CDM 2015 duties: written appointments are required for a project with more than one contractor, and the client must ensure the plan is in place before work starts. The contractor must also plan its own work and cooperate. The missing plan matters because it should set out site rules, welfare, emergency arrangements, traffic management and coordination.
Traps that cost marks
Do not say every project needs a principal contractor; only projects with more than one contractor. Do not confuse F10 notification with the construction phase plan. Reasonably practicable is not the same as best practice or an absolute duty.