CDM 2015 domestic projects: who is responsible?

CDM 2015 domestic projects: who is responsible?

CDM 2015 applies to all construction work, including domestic jobs. The rules are simpler for small projects, but you still need to manage health and safety properly.

Here is a plain-English breakdown for trade businesses.

Key roles under CDM 2015

• Client: The person having the work done. On domestic projects, their duties usually transfer to the contractor.
• Principal contractor (PC): Manages site safety when more than one contractor is involved.
• Principal designer (PD): Plans and manages health and safety during design. Often relevant for larger works.
• Contractor: Any business doing the work.

What this means on a typical domestic job

One contractor only

If you are the only contractor:

• You take on the client duties.
• You must plan, manage, and monitor the work safely.
• You must provide welfare (basic facilities).

More than one contractor

If multiple trades are involved (for example, plumber and electrician):

• A principal contractor should be appointed.
• A principal designer may be required if design work is significant.
• The PC coordinates RAMS, inductions, and site safety.

Notifiable projects (rare for small trades)

A project is notifiable if it lasts more than 30 working days and has 20+ workers on site at once, or if it exceeds 500 person-days. Most domestic jobs do not reach this threshold.

Practical compliance checklist

• Write a basic RAMS for the job.
• Provide safe access and egress.
• Check competence of any subcontractors.
• Keep the site tidy and control dust.
• Record incidents and near misses.

Toolfy tip

Keep a CDM checklist in each job record so everyone knows who is responsible for safety tasks. If a site manager asks, you can show compliance in minutes.