Regulation 8: The Four-Part Competence Test
- Paul Scanlon
- Jul 30
- 1 min read
Regulation 8 of CDM 2015 uses a four-part test for competence. Most clients only check one of the four.
The regulation requires those making appointments to be satisfied that the person or organisation they are appointing has the following:
Skills — does the individual have the technical capability to perform this specific role?
Knowledge — do they understand the particular risks associated with this type and scale of project?
Experience — have they demonstrably performed this role, on comparable projects, successfully?
Organisational capability — does the organisation have sufficient resources, management systems, and capacity to deliver this project at this point in time?
The fourth element is the one most commonly overlooked. A contractor who was highly capable twelve months ago may be stretched, understaffed, or differently managed today. Organisational capability is a current condition — not a fixed quality that, once established, can be assumed to persist.
The HSE has been explicit that organisational capability is not a fixed quality. It must be assessed as a current condition at the point of appointment.
Pre-qualification systems are useful — but they represent a floor, not a ceiling. The duty holder making the appointment must apply genuine scrutiny proportionate to the project risk and complexity.
The right question is not "did they pass our pre-qualification process?" It is "are they capable of delivering this project, safely, with the team and resources they have available right now?"
That is a different question. And it requires a different kind of answer.
Get your free Client Guide to CDM 2015 here: cdm2015.co.uk/resource-download
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