TRM HS2
TECHNICAL REFERENCE Rev 1
MANUAL Date 7/04
Health & Safety
Page 1 of 2
DESIGNERS’ HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDANCE
AND THE CDM REGULATIONS
INTRODUCTION
As designers we have duties under various health and safety legislation and our common law duty of
care to consider the health and safety of those who may be affected by our designs and associated
activities.
Key health and safety legislation in this respect includes:
• the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 - general provisions;
• the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations - general provisions and specifically risk
assessment;
• the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations [CDM] - specific duties on designers and
others associated with the management of construction work.
DUTIES OF DESIGNERS
The principal duties of designers under the CDM regulations are to:
− alert clients to their duties under the CDM regulations
− consider during the development of designs the hazards and risks which may arise to those
constructing, commissioning, maintaining, cleaning, repairing, altering, decommissioning,
dismantling or demolishing the building, structure or services
− design to avoid risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable
− design to reduce risks at source if avoidance is not reasonably practicable
− consider measures which can be taken to assist in providing protection of all workers if neither
avoidance nor reduction of risk to safe level is possible
− ensure that the design includes adequate information about health and safety and that such
information is included on drawings, in specifications and any other relevant documents
− pass adequate health and safety information on to the planning supervisor so that it can be
incorporated into the health and safety plan and the health and safety file
− cooperate on health and safety matters with the planning supervisor and other designers involved
in the project.
Detailed guidance notes, checklists and standard forms are included in the health and safety section of
the WSP intranet. This includes:
• general notes for designers in respect of H&S legislation, design responsibilities etc
• guidance on risk assessment in design
• standard risk assessment and identification forms
• detailed guidance on the information to be provided for the health and safety plan and the health
and safety file
• detailed work sector guidance to assist in identifying key issues for consideration by designers
• a hazard identification checklist.
WSP Group
TRM HS2
TECHNICAL REFERENCE Rev 1
MANUAL Date 7/04
Health & Safety
Page 2 of 2
DESIGNERS’ HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDANCE
AND THE CDM REGULATIONS
Author: David Watson, Group Safety Advisor, Nottingham
Sponsor: Group Technical Centre
Revision record:
First issued as TRM 47
3/01 Revision 4 of TRM G4
7/04 Renumbered from TRM G4, no revisions
WSP Group
