The questions worth asking about your own project before someone else asks them.
Each article in this section asks one question about your own project. When did you appoint your principal designer? Did anybody actually read the construction phase plan? When did you last check a contractor's competence properly?
They are the questions that get asked after something goes wrong, by an inspector, an insurer or a lawyer. Each article explains what CDM 2015 requires behind the question, and what a good answer looks like in writing. Answering them before a project starts costs far less than answering them afterwards. For two quick checks you can run today, try our free F10 notification checker and the free CDM 2015 checklists.
Question-Led ·
When did you last properly check the competence of a contractor — not just their insurance certificates and CSCS cards? Regulation 8 of CDM 2015 requires every duty holder to take reasonable steps to verify the skills, knowledge, experience, and organisational capability of those they appoint.
Question-Led ·
Before your last construction project started on site — did you read the Construction Phase Plan? Not skim it. Actually read it.
Question-Led ·
The legal deadline for appointing a principal designer is the start of the construction phase. The useful deadline is much earlier. What the regulations and HSE's guidance say, and what a late appointment costs.
