Residential Developers

The HSE knows about the financial and time pressures involved in construction or refurbishment projects and that some developers will try to minimise the upfront cost of engaging a CDM Coordinator from the moment that a designer lifts his or her pencil. However, the role exists from the earliest planning stages and if no-one is appointed, it is the client who takes on the duties of the CDM Dutyholder.

So it is important that the CDM Co-ordinator is seen as a member of the team and makes constructive contributions to the design process rather than wave a clipboard and say 'you can't do that!' An example of where best practice early appointment was when one BSA client planned to build up against a boundary. Fortunately, BSA was able to anticipate that this would not allow sufficient safe access for forseeable maintenance and was able to suggest moving the footprint slightly to take this into account. The very least impact would have been that services and sightlines would have had to be redrawn but it could have required expensive access equipment or the increased cost of much more specialist firms resulting in much higher operational costs.

Ideally, the CDM role is contracted directly to the client developer and is not bundled with design & build, design, project management or main contractor roles. This is so it can be demonstrated that 'adequate resources' have been made available for the construction phase health & safety and the CDM Coordinator can give advice for practical solutions to issues direct to the client. Clients are obliged to have adequate systems for their management of health and safety of their projects and BSA CDMD Coordinators can often recommend courses of action that keep Directors and Senior managers aware of their legal obligations and not at risk of prosecutions under for example, the Corporate Manslaughter Act.

Using a specialist CDM Coordinator can lead to impartial and objective feedback to you about your project by using an extra pair of experienced eyes. We work with major developers such as Persimmon Homes and Countryside Properties and Housing Associations such as London & Quadrant.

You may need:

Pre Contract Health & Safety Plans

Pre Contract Health & Safety Plans at the design stage. [See Services > CDM Coordinators].

CDM Coordinators

CDM Coordinators when necessary under the CDM Regulations (for construction or refurbishment projects) [See Services > CDM Coordinators].

To alert Duty Holders

To Alert Duty Holders under the CDM Regulations [See Services > CDM Coordinators].

Party Wall surveying services

Party Wall surveying services when the Party Wall etc Act applies [See Services > Party Wall Matters].

Competency assessments

Competency assessments for Designers, Principal Contractors / sub-contractors / client directs [See Services > Assessments of Contractors].

Internal H&S Audit

To ensure your own Health & Safety management systems are robust [See Services > Health & Safety Advisors].

Site Inspections

Site Inspections and reports [See Services > Health & Safety Advisors].

Help with an HSE CDM Compliance Check

Help with a HSE CDM Compliance Check presentation [See Services > CDM Coordinators].

Help with specific incidents

Specific incidents [See Services > Health & Safety Advisors].

Health & Safety Training

Training is a key element of Health & Safety: We offer training from First Aider qualifications and refreshers to Site Inductions, Scaffold Appreciation and Accident Investigation. [See Services > Training].

 

For further information - please call Bernard Sims Associates on 01483 467270 or e-mail bsims@bsims.co.uk