I'm trying to assess the needs of a company for CDM 2015. A project needs a Principal Contractor if there is more than one Contractor. This then triggers the need for a Principal Designer. My question is others interpretation of the following situation. A small contractor does a project that lasts a few days. They use a sub-contractor such as a contract crane lift from a specialist company. Are they now a Principal Contractor as now there are two contractors on site, and hence need a Principal designer appointed? I get they they need to plan, manage and monitor the work etc whatever the size of project but the extra duty holder makes it seem a bit extreme.

I'm not concerned about the PC duties, they have to manage the site whatever the size and a name is just a name. Its just that in being "responsible" Should they be telling the client that actually they Will be a PC, so they, as a client, need to appoint a PD (with what I assume will be an extra cost)? All because the Contractor subs out a crane lift! There is often an element of design.

Yes, according to the regs, because you will have two contractors on site you will need a PD. The PD then picks up a load of otherwise non-existent duties, so will want paying significant sums. They become jointly liable, for example, for all foreseeable risks that could have been eliminated from any part of any design, so they will want sight of all design deliverables anyone has produced. They also need to send information to all the parties being considered for any appointment, so they'll need everyone's tender list.