Possible hint as to what has been changed since CD261 consultation. http://www.hseni.gov.uk/...orthern-ireland-2007-cdm Still absolutely no clear direction on HSE or CONIAC pages.

As many of us predicted long ago; its looking more and more likely it will be post election

6foot4. Silence is NOT golden! Paper presented to CONIAC meeting on 19 November with indication that this would be posted on HSE site shortly afterwards. I don't count a month later as "shortly afterwards". There's also the indication that the draft guidance will be available on 9 January on both HSE and CITB websites, but I'm not holding my breath. There has been no promise that the regulations would be made by 9 January. Require to be made at least 40 Parliamentary working days before coming into force. This gives the minimum required time for either House to vote against. What is stated in the NI consultation document to be the final GB Impact Assessment (but with no evidence of signature) claims less than half the savings of the Impact Assessment in CD261 whilst at the same time admitting that the regulations would have a net cost to householders. Given that the parent directive is due for renegotiation within the next ~12 months why the ongoing panic to introduce legislative change?

I agree, it is only a matter of timing. I believe that the new regulations will be brought in after the election and that the Government already know that the parent directive will not change substantially. From my experience there appears to be a myth that the proposed regulations just involve the simple replacement of CDM-C by the Principal Designer. It is only when you read and study the proposed regulation that you begin to understand the subtly of the wording. There are significant new duties for Clients and Designers, and an increase in the level of those duties proposed. I think there are weaknesses in the current regulations which I believe the HSE are intent on strengthening. The requirement to design out hazards has not really worked and it is too easy to freeze out the CDM-C making it a bureaucratic role. There has also been a lack of enforcement on everyone except the Principal Contractor. There will be no ACOP. I think the current ACOP interprets the regulation sympathetically compared to the actual wording in the regulations. We have to interpret the legislation ourselves which I have no doubt will be further defined by the courts through appeals or litigation. Therefore I predict a harsh legal interpretation will prevail. Like most H&S law you cannot look at the proposed regulations in isolation. I think Fee For Intervention will play it part, particularly when the HSE look at designers. I would appreciate member’s thoughts.

I think there is a political perspective to this. Do Tory candidates want to explain to voters in April why their conservatories are going to cost more due to legislation coming from the EU?

Quite! Plus it was done under the red tape initiative which would expose that for what it is, even to the most rabid tory