CDM 2015 – short phrase, but big intentions?

In our industry, like many others, there’s a metalanguage, a dictionary of words and phrases that are baffling perhaps to outsiders, but clear as day to stakeholders. ISO is one term – the International Organisation for Standardisation, presumably called that and not iOS so as not to incur the legal might of Apple?

Another is CDM 2015, neatly defined on their website: 

“The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) cover the management of health, safety and welfare when carrying out construction projects.”

If you’re in any sort of construction industry, you’ll understand its relevance and weight. It’s handily divided into 5 parts and these are further split into 39 regulations, 5 schedules and appendices. 

Unlike many terms though, CDM 2015 is not advisory, businesses are expected to comply, with dire financial consequences for failing to do so in terms of huge penalties and even imprisonment. Rightly so, you may see, given the huge risks to life in construction projects. 

“Safety brings first aid to the uninjured.” – F.S. Hughes 

Construction, as a word itself, is a broad umbrella and encompasses: 

  • Preparation
  • Groundworks and site clearance
  • Alterations
  • Conversions
  • Fitting out
  • Commissioning
  • Renovation
  • Repair
  • Upkeep
  • Redecoration and other maintenance
  • Installation of services
  • Demolition and dismantling of a structure

So how do you ensure your company is CDM 2015 compliant?

Like many processes, you need to start with a plan; a plan of action to organise the work. Small scale projects may not involve as much navel-gazing but larger scale tasks will as you will probably have many roles to allocate.

Offshore wind projects need to comply with IMO conventions and CDM 2015 stipulations too.

This is where this article will move on to specific construction challenges within our industry. 

Let’s start with some considerations. 

A CDM co-ordinator or CDM plan should encompass aspects such as:

  • Deeper water
  • Height of waves 
  • Availability, adaptability, mobility and capability of sea vessels
  • Transportation
  • Emergency protocols 
  • Lifting
  • Construction and operation of components 

Additionally, risk evaluations need to be in place to eradicate hazards, crew and wind technician competence needs to be monitored and assessed, language and cultural barriers also need looking at, given that offshore wind is a global and expanding industry.

The renewable industry generally has a good safety record; yet it’s worth remembering that 2018 alone saw 256 “high-potential” incidents (defined as life-changing injuries or death). 

Dorine Bosman’s report from 2019 mentions this and more. It praises the annual safety improvements but points out future risks in terms of man and woman hours. 

In an expanding sector, where working hours exceed the combined hours for both oil and gas, the renewable industry needs to be on its guard constantly. 

“Your employees learn by example. If they don’t see you practising good safety habits, they won’t think safety is important.” – Electrical Construction & Maintenance 

If you’d like more advice about CDM 2015, contact one of our expert team at HSEQ-360 today.