Z You have answered your own question and have demonstrated competence in doing so - well done I strongly advise that you talk to your employer ASAP and explaine to them that they carry all the liability etc. and note to them that the PC is also out of order as they should know the law - additionally the designer should be approached as they too would be out of order if they do not tell the client about their [the clients] dut I would advise my employer to hire a CDMC for this project and let me shadow them so as I can learn some skills so as the next CDM job may become within my competence remit

Which doesn't help the OP, but it is an interesting consideration - we see a steady trickle of people on the forum saying (in essence) "help! my employer wants me to be CDM-C and I haven't a clue", suggesting that this is not being seen as an integral requirement. I suggest that it will be fairly unlikely that those (or similar) employers will be pushing untrained inexperienced employees to be the designer for their building work in 12 months time - suggesting that the plan to put the CDM duties onto one of the designers may actually help to integrate the role, at least in naive client organisations. But returnming to teh OP: depending upon tehe xtent of your construction experience, and teh complexity of teh project, you may be adequately experienced - every CDM-C had a first appointment. However, I suggest: 1: Don't accept you individually being CDM-C - CDM-C can be an organisation, so make sure that it is your employing organisation that is 'the CDM-C', and you can do what is required on that organisation's behalf, but you don't want to be carrying sole individual liability. 2: Obtain the CDM ACOP - free download from HSE website. The ACOP has six pages specifically on the CDM-C role (paragraphs 84 onwards), and a similar section on competence (paragraphs 193 onwards). They will probably either tell you that you do have what you need, or provide the evidence to explain to your employer that you don't. 3: You mention demolition. Demolition is specifically referenced in CDM - see regulation 29 - and called up several times in the ACOP as particularly hazardous. How familiar are you with BS6187 (the BS for demolition)?

zan, If the work has already started, do 3 things now. Find out the age of the building, find out if a recent asbestos survey has been done, read through the survey. Is there asbestos? JohnW

JohnW Not forgetting that it needs to be a Demo/Refurb survey to be of any use and to comply with CAR 2012. achrn CDMC is primarily expected to be an organisation not a sole person. Zan You are being placed in an invidious position by your employer as I think your competence levels may be less than required but you need to assess carefully the work content and your real state of competence in these areas. If you are looking at new plant without real structural work then you may be more competent than construction professionals. Even so an unsupported NEBOSH certificate holder is placing themselves in a tenuous position with regard competence. Non H&S Professional CDMCs generally have a strong professional background of some sort in construction coupled to a NEBOSH cert/construction cert. Bob

If your not acting as CDMC and you are just an employee of the actual Client then you will have no duties under the CDM regs. However if you have general H&S responsibilities then you may want to liase with the contractors with respect to ensuring the ongoing suitability of your building fire risk assessment whilst works are taking place and also general issues like safe access/egress, segregation from works etc. Regards

It is also a bit late to ask the designer or contractor if they will take it as the work is almost underway. No doubt the PC will do it for an additional fee. Bob