Part 3: What clients must do for all projects

As already mentioned, one of the main duties for clients under CDM (2007) is ensuring that designers, contractors and others involved in the work are "competent".

In practice this means making "reasonable enquiries" about their knowledge and experience - such as ensuring that similar work has been carried out in the past. Professionals, such as designers and CDM co-ordinators, should have appropriate qualifications and be signed up to 'continuing professional development'. Likewise, contractors should have formal or "in-house" training programmes in place for their workers.

Another important aspect of this check would be to ensure that all appointed parties have adequate insurance arrangements in place, particularly employers and public liability cover and professional indemnity (where applicable).

It is reasonable to expect those bidding for work to have put together a package of information showing how their policies and working practices meet the necessary health and safety standards. At the same time, small contractors (those with fewer than 5 employees) may not have written health and safety policies, but would still be required to demonstrate the required knowledge and experience for the task.

Management arrangements

In its Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) accompanying the Regulations, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) accepts that most clients "will not be experts in the construction process, and for this reason they are not required to take an active role in managing the work."

However, clients do need to take "reasonable steps" to ensure that suitable management arrangements are in place throughout the project, in order to make sure that the work is carried out safely.

In practice this means checking that everyone involved in the project understands their role and responsibilities, and that those with duties under the Regulations have sufficient time and resources to comply. Good communication and co-operation are important when it comes to complying with CDM (2007).

In addition, clients must ensure that the contractor is provided with the necessary "pre-construction information" needed to identify health and safety hazards and risks.

Examples could include the fact that children have been known to play in the area, or that hazardous/flammable materials are stored in a particular part of the site. A key aspect here, and one which is controlled by other more specific regulations, concerns the presence of asbestos in buildings - which could present a danger to workers if disturbed.

The HSE says that it is not acceptable for clients to make general reference to hazards, such as - "there may be asbestos present in the building". The pre-construction information must be "sufficient to ensure that significant risks during the work can be anticipated and planned for". The over-rising principle here is "the right information for the right people at the right time".