Word of mouth going round my locality that I'm offering CDM Co-ordinator services and Safety Adviser services to small builders. Yes I have done so, reluctantly in some cases because of lack of project/site management, but now I am turning away work on 'small projects'. By small projects I mean like Bob The Builder building two semi-detached houses on a piece of land that he bought.
Typically Bob The Builder has a day job e.g. an estate agent, or has a kitchen-and-bathroom design shop on the High St., who fancies himself as a house builder - and indeed HAS built houses, maybe one five years ago, and another one eight years ago.
So the latest example, I have a couple of meetings with Bob The Builder, the project will take 9 months, so it was a good start for him to want to appoint a CDM-C. But he has done so only because the local water/sewage company told him to. We try and thrash out a Pre-Construction Plan. So Bob The Builder wants to be Client, Designer, Principal Contractor - all three. Yes he designed the building and got Bill The Architect to do a drawing. Neither know anything about CDM.
Bob The Builder has already given the ground-worker a day to start digging next week but I tell him he can't start the project because we don't have suitable project management in place.
I rang him this morning saying I can't continue as CDM-C, and wrote confirming. Am I being harsh or realistic writing this:
>>
Thanks for calling back this morning, sorry I can’t make things work out for us on your project, but as a CDM-coordinator I need to be satisfied that we can ensure adequate supervision and safety knowledge on site at all times, by someone who can demonstrate knowledge/skills/competence for work at height and compliance with the Construction CDM regulations.
Your project lasts more than a month and so you need to appoint experienced people to ensure the project complies with the CDM regulations.
I needed to know if there would be suitable site supervision from the Client or Principal Contractor, BOTH of which is currently you, but as you can’t commit to daily visits to site and you have no safety management experience, nor CDM training, then your arrangements are not in compliance with the CDM regulations. Also your experience as a builder or designer, a house every 5 years or so, is insufficient and cannot demonstrate the necessary experience in construction, design and safety management.
It’s not realistic for you to carry out all the duties of Client, Designer and Principal Contractor all at once, with insufficent experience/training. For example you said in your notes that "any steelwork required will be calculated by an engineer when required" and that sort of comment is unacceptable.
I strongly recommend that you gain a certificate from the CITB for a construction supervisor, SSSTS, see the attached information. From that you will understand CDM.
And you should employ an experienced construction foreman to be your Principal Contractor, to manage the site on a daily basis, to ensure safe working at all times.
And you do need someone like myself to be your CDM Co-ordinator, someone who can work with you and your foreman or Principal Contractor to set out and manage a proper construction plan.
For you, as the site Client, I attach a guide CDM_client.pdf
Note that the guide says: if you fail to appoint a CDM Co-ordinator or Principal Contractor you as the Client will be legally liable for those duties. If those duties are not fulfilled, this can leave you open to potentially expensive civil action and also a charge by the HSE, leading to criminal prosecution.
As I said, all the documents I’ve provided you with may still be useful, but I’ve removed my name from the F10 notification. I won’t send in any invoices.
I will send you more information on how to find another CDM coordinator and Safety Consultant. Good luck with the project, just get it managed.
<<