CDM 2015: what you must do as the client

Who counts as a client

Anyone having construction work carried out as part of a business. That includes tenants fitting out an office or shop, and it includes small jobs such as a new partition or ceiling.

Your main duties

• Appoint contractors who have the skills, knowledge and experience for the job
• Allow enough time and money to do the work safely
• Give them what you know about the building, including the asbestos survey
• Make sure welfare facilities are in place for the workers
• Check a construction phase plan is in place before work starts

More than one contractor

If more than one contractor will be on the job, you must appoint a principal designer and a principal contractor in writing. If you do not, the law treats you as holding those roles yourself.

When HSE must be notified

You must notify HSE, using form F10, if the work will last more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers on site at the same time at any point, or will exceed 500 person days.

In practice

A good fit-out contractor will take on the principal contractor role and walk you through the rest. Ask who holds each role and get it in writing before work starts.