Development of guidance

Since 1994, the CDM Regulations have formed the backbone of Health and Safety Regulations relating to construction, design and management of projects in the construction industry.

In light of the continuing poor health and safety performance of the construction sector, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) published its ‘Revitalising Health and Safety in Construction’ discussion document in 2002. Following industry’s comments on this document, HSC announced it would revise the CDM Regulations in 2003.

Revising the CDM Regulations

In March 2005, the Health and Safety Commission published proposals and began its consultation on revising and consolidating the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994, the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 and the Approved Code of Practice and the supporting Guidance.

At the heart of the consultation was a series of 25 roadshows supported by ConstructionSkills, HSE, ICE and Constructing Excellence which reached approximately 2,500 attendees nationwide. The feedback from these roadshows and other sources was used by HSC to inform the subsequent development of the Regulations and Approved Code of Practice (ACoP).

In April 2006, CONIAC (the HSE’s construction industry advisory committee) established a steering group (called the Guidance Working Group) to develop the industry-produced Guidance to accompany the new Regulations.