Understanding CDM 2015 — What Duty Holders Need to Know

A practical guide to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and the responsibilities they place on clients, designers and contractors.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 — CDM 2015 — set out how health and safety must be managed on construction projects in the UK. Whether you are commissioning a single domestic refurbishment or running a multi-contractor industrial build, the regulations apply, and the duties placed on you as a duty holder are real, enforceable and routinely tested by HSE inspectors.

Who counts as a duty holder?

CDM 2015 names five duty holders: the client, the principal designer, the principal contractor, designers and contractors. Each has clearly defined responsibilities throughout the project life-cycle — from concept design through to handover. The client is the lead duty holder and is accountable for making suitable arrangements for managing the project, including allocating sufficient time and resources.

Common compliance gaps we see

In the audits we deliver across the North East and North Yorkshire the same shortfalls appear again and again: incomplete pre-construction information packs, late appointment of the principal designer, F10 notifications submitted after work has started, and construction phase plans that are templated rather than project-specific. Any one of these can result in an enforcement notice — and they are entirely avoidable.

Practical steps to stay compliant

Start every project by mapping the duty holders in writing, even when roles overlap. Issue pre-construction information early, in plain language, and include known site hazards (asbestos surveys, services drawings, traffic management constraints). Require contractors to demonstrate competence — not just SSIP membership, but evidence of similar work delivered safely. Finally, treat the construction phase plan as a living document; review it at every key milestone.

How we help

Law Safety Services acts as Principal Designer for clients who do not have in-house design capability, and as a CDM advisor for clients who do. We produce pre-construction information packs, review construction phase plans, sit in on design risk workshops and provide ongoing site assurance. If you would like a confidential review of your current CDM arrangements, get in touch — the first conversation is always free.