Under the CDM Regs 2015, a Designer’s duties includes:
- to make sure the client is aware of the client duties under CDM 2015 before starting any design work
- when preparing or modifying designs:
- take account of any pre-construction information provided by the client (and Principal Designer, if one is involved)
- eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks to anyone affected by the project (if possible)
- take steps to reduce or control any risks that cannot be eliminated
- to provide design information to:
- the Principal Designer (if involved), for inclusion in the pre-construction information and the health and safety file
- the client and Principal Contractor (or the contractor for single contractor projects) to help them comply with their duties, such as ensuring a construction phase plan is prepared
- to communicate, cooperate and coordinate with:
- any other designers (including the Principal Designer) so that all designs are compatible and ensure health and safety, both during the project and beyond
- all contractors (including the Principal Contractor), to take account of their knowledge and experience of building designs.
Where the project involves more than one contractor and the domestic client does not appoint a Principal Designer, the role of the Principal Designer must be carried out by the designer in control of the pre-construction phase.
