A major overhaul of regulations to improve workers’ health and reduce accidents on site has been highlighted at a seminar hosted by the Construction Employers Federation.

The aim of the new Construction Design and Management (CDM) regulations, which take effect in Northern Ireland this spring, is to integrate health and safety into the management of the project and to encourage everyone involved to work together to: identify risks early so that they can be eliminated or reduced at the design/planning stage; target effort where it can do most good in terms of health and safety and; discourage unnecessary bureaucracy.

John Armstrong, Managing Director of the CEF, explained: “These regulations are intended to focus attention on planning and management throughout construction projects, from design concept onwards. The aim is for health and safety considerations to be treated as an essential, but normal part of a project’s development – not an afterthought or bolt on extra.”

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“They provide a window of opportunity to consider how to move forward in a manner that adds value to projects whilst also reducing the incidence of ill health and accidents. In order to make the most of this we need to plan ahead to take advantage of reduced costs and delays, more reliable costings and completion dates, improved communication and co-operation between key parties and improved quality of the final product.”

John Carpenter, an expert in health and safety risk management who was involved in drafting of guidance documentation to CDM regulations, highlighted the key difference they will bring.

“These revised regulations build on the experiences of the existing CDM regulations in order to bring overall project improvement. Specifically clients are now at the centre of construction projects and are unable to pass on their responsibilities to agents. Contractors appointed by clients have an obligation to ensure that clients are aware of their duties, perhaps through meetings to talk through the dis-benefit to the client if not properly implemented and the benefit to all of a pro-active approach.”