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Posted By Mogcat
Just started in a new position and one of the contract managers has had a letter from a client (I think they are being prompted by the cdm coordinator) requesting the RA that were completed during the design stage of a project completed 6 months ago. They specifically want RA associated with a mezzanine floor that was put in. Access to the mezz floor is via ladder and is accessed on a regular basis to get to certain machine controls and for maintenance duties. RA and Method Statements have been produced for these operations (and PTW) where necessary. I am by no means an expert with CDM regs so I hope someone can confirm the following. Is it a requirement of the CDM regs that RA are carried out at the design stage? If so should the cdm coordinator have requested these from the designer at an earlier stage in the project ? Any advice appreciated
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Ron Hunter
For a completed Project, it would have been the CDM Co-ordinator's role to gather relevant information for inclusion in the H&S File for the completed /refurbished Structure.
This would include a set of as-built drawings and relevant information for the maintenance, cleaning and ultimate demolition/dismantling of the mezzanine floor, etc.
A bit late now to be reconsidering or challenging design considerations or designer assumptions. The Designer may in any event have considered that the construction etc. of the mezzanine did not warrant any particular consideration beyond what competent people would be expected to already know - i.e. the "Risk Assessment" (and CDM 2007 now rightly shies away from this terminology) may not have ever existed.
Whilst the specification of a ladder -v- a fixed stair could (should) be challenged at the design stage, the CDM Co-ordinator should have been the person challenging. Anyhow,with the job now complete, any requirement for improved access (if this is perhaps now the contentious issue) would be a cost+ consideration.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Arran Linton - Smith
Mogcat,
You don’t need to be a CDM expert as Paragraph 120 of the CDM Approved Code of Practice gives you exactly the answer that you are seeking.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Or more specifically, para 119(d)& 133:
Designers should provide adequate information sbout any significant risks associated with the design.
"Significant risk" is explained at para 133 as those risks which are unusual, or not likely to be obvious to a competent contractor or other designer, or are likely to be difficult to manage effectively.
No significant risk = no information from Designer.
Where there is information about significant risk the Designer needs to pass on, the CDM ACoP encourages Designers to make that information available as part of the Scheme or on the Project Drawings - not a seperate "Risk Assessment".
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By steve e ashton
Devil's advocate viewpoint: If the client did not specify what he wanted the mezzanine for - or how he was going to use it - then the designer may have been entitled to believe it was for very infrequent access (plant maintenance perhaps, or archive storage maybe).
It would be unusual for any routinely accessed area to be designed with a ladder for access - so either the designers were given faulty information, or the client did not provide adequate information or.....
It may be that the designer and / or CDM-C has been ineffective in preventing or mitigating risks in the project. It could also be the client acting as designer or the client failing to pass on info.
Without knowing the detailed project history, I would suggest it is premature to point the finger at any one party.
BUT - to answer the original post - no. There is no obligation on a designer to produce a 'design risk assessment' written into CDM 2007. It may be difficult to see how a designer can discharge his obligations WITHOUT doing a DRA - but the requirement is not prescribed by the regs.
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