Who wrote the CDM regs. Was it one author or a collection?

If I remeber rightly the input of construction field inspectors was pretty small to non existent - it was basically lawyers and bureaucrats Bob

It's a tad unfair to indicate that only 'lawyers and bureaucrats' were mainly involved with the drafting of the CDM Regulations. The original Directives on which the CDM Regs are based had European construction industry input, as well as the HSE and UK construction sector and, of course all the other Member States. Following the Revitalising Health and Safety initiative, in 2002, the HSC Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) was requested by the Health and Safety Commission to review the regulations following complaints - mainly by the construction sector - that they were too complicated. Under the direction of HSE's Stephen Wright the review was started and the first main report can be seen and downloaded from the CONIAC meeting held on the 27th July 2003. By the 20th November 2003 CONIAC had established a Working Group specifically to deal with the revision of the CDM Regs and the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996. The group had representatives from construction employers, unions and other industry bodies. Extensive research and consultation with the construction sector was undertaken during a three year period. Proposals for new CDM Regulations were put forward and subject to public consultation. By the CONIAC meeting held on the 23rd November 2006 the HSC had agreed the revised regulations and they were implemented in 2007. During the period 2003 - 2007 I seem to recall that delays occurred so that all the various issues raised by the construction industry could be addressed. As with any new health and safety regulations the proposed regulations were subject to the normal consultation period when anybody could comment. It was widely publicised in the construction sector. The CDM Regulations have been the subject of extensive industry and public consultation which actually did influence the final draft. While it will be true that somebody in the HSE will have done the actual writing, they will have been influenced and directed by more than just 'lawyers and bureaucrats', CONIAC being the key vehicle. However the regulations are also restricted by the requirements of European Directives and - as such - I appreciate that some construction industry representatives were disappointed at not getting everything they wanted. Such is life. Cheers. Nigel