Hi to all my company undertake kitchen replacements in void properties for a Community Housing Association , what started off as one off properties ( completed within 10/15 days ) as now turned into a repetitive programme - with works on void properties now runing over the 30 day threshold under CDM , at my next meeting with the client , I am proposing to bring these void works under the umbrella of the CDM Regs , F10 to be issued and a site specific Construction Phase H&S Plan in place . agree ? welcome your comments GF

GF The work you are carrying out is /should be following the CDM Regs as a matter of course. If you are carrying out kitchen replacement as part of a planned refurbishment progam then the project is notifiable with an F10 to the HSE. If you are taking more than 30 days or 500 person days to fit a kitchen then you are required to notify the HSe with an F10. If these void works are one off projects then there is no requirement to notify unless you meet the above criteria. Ultimately it is the Client's responsibility to appoint a CDM Coordinator and ensure the project is notified to the HSE. But as Bob says are you really taking more than 30 days to fit a kitchen?

The advice that I have had from the HSE in the past about a pretty much identical program of works is that the rolling program should be viewed as a 'whole' rather than trying to break it down into individual jobs, and that therefore it was notfiable as it had exceeded the various thresholds. Hope this helps.

As a CDM Coordinator I often come across these situations. The client in this case should be made aware that if they do not appoint a CDM Coordinator for notifiable projects then they become the CDM Coordinator themselves. They can then also be found to be lacking in the required competence and will also be liable for all the CDMC duties. Even if a CDMC is appointed later on, they will still be liable for the CDMC duties until one is appointed.

If you are competent to deliver CDM services ( interms of experience in this sector of construction - social housing ) and member of the APS then there is nothing in the regs which prohibits you wearing two hats so to speak. If you have a recognised health and safety management system in place with all relevant documentation such as CDM Plans / Risk Assessments etc,together with appropriate site staff training (Site Safety Plus Training Courses ), then it is acheivable. The plus point with this is that you will be integral to the client interms of saving money, plus being integrated into the contract ( or ongoing contract work ) meaning that it is less likely that you will be made redundant during these hard economic times, as there is a legal need for you to be present at all stages of the contract. As others have said above, the HSE have advised that this type of work should be grouped into longer periods of work, making the project notifiable under the CDM Regs. John

All I am saying is that there is nothing in the CDM Regs to say that CDM-C and P.C have to be two different entities. If H & S advisors have been exposed to the CDM role ( for example in a consultancy environment ), then they are better placed to know how much consultancies can charge potential clients. In my experience if clients are unwilling to take on independant CDM-Cs and know that the P.C has H & S Advisors ( who are also members of APS ), then there is a chance the H & S advisor may undertake the role of CDM-C. John