Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
SI 2015/51•Status:CurrentAt a Glance
- Date Enacted
- 22 January 2015
- Enforcing Body
- HSE
- Maximum Penalty
- Unlimited
- Jurisdiction
- England, Wales, Scotland
- Citation
- SI 2015/51
- Status
- Current
What This Means for You
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) are a set of regulations in the UK aimed at improving health and safety on construction projects. They place duties on various parties involved in construction, including clients, designers, principal designers, principal contractors, and contractors. The regulations aim to ensure that health and safety risks are properly managed from the initial design phase through to the completion and future use of the building. CDM 2015 significantly impacts workplace safety signage by requiring duty holders to ensure that appropriate and effective signage is in place to warn workers and the public of hazards, provide information on safe working practices, and direct people safely around the construction site. This includes signage for site boundaries, traffic management, hazardous substances, emergency procedures, and welfare facilities. The regulations emphasize proactive risk management and collaboration among all parties to create a safer construction environment. Failure to comply can lead to enforcement action, including fines and imprisonment.
Key Provisions
Schedule 2, Part 4Emergency routes and exitsEmergency routes must have suitable signs
Emergency routes must have suitable signs
Schedule 2, Part 4 - Emergency routes and exits
Emergency routes must have suitable signs
Signage Requirements
- Provision of clear and legible safety signs to warn of hazards and provide instructions.
- Signage must comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.
- Signage must be maintained in good condition and replaced when necessary.
- Signage must be appropriate for the specific hazards and risks present on the construction site.
- Signage must be placed in locations where it is easily visible and understandable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inadequate or missing safety signage.
- Signage that is damaged, faded, or illegible.
- Incorrect or outdated signage.
- Failure to provide signage in appropriate languages where necessary.
- Failure to provide signage for specific hazards, such as asbestos or confined spaces.
Practical Next Steps
- 1Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify all hazards requiring signage.
- 2Consult with workers to ensure signage is understandable and effective.
- 3Regularly inspect and maintain safety signage.
- 4Provide training to workers on the meaning of safety signs and signals.
- 5Use a combination of signs, symbols, and written instructions to ensure clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for ensuring safety signage is in place on a construction site?
What happens if a construction site doesn't have adequate safety signage?
Official Resources
Related Regulations
Safety Signs Regulations 1996
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
The core signage regulation. Requires employers to provide safety signs where risks cannot be avoided or controlled by other means.
L64Safety Signs and SignalsView Full DetailsFire Safety Order 2005
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Primary fire safety legislation for non-domestic premises. Requires fire safety signs for escape routes and equipment.
View Full DetailsFire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Post-Grenfell regulations requiring wayfinding signage in high-rise residential buildings.
View Full DetailsGB CLP Regulation
Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (retained EU law)
UK's implementation of the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) for chemical classification and labelling.
View Full Details
