The aim of the CDM Regulations is to establish provisions regarding health, safety and welfare in construction, by placing various responsibilities on those involved in construction projects.

Projects are classified as either notifiable or non-notifiable, with notifiable ones being those which are generally larger in scale and take longer to complete. As a result, such projects have additional duties.

Where a project is notifiable, the client must appoint a construction, design and management (CDM) co-ordinator to carry out certain general duties. CDM co-ordinators are there to provide advice and assistance on how to comply with the Regulations, to make sure the appropriate health and safety measures are implemented and to liaise with the various contractors.

In addition to the CDM-C element of a construction project, the Principle Contractor Health & Safety is an essential element of construction works, whether they are Notifiable or not.