Asbestos and CDM 2015 — Level 3 Health & Safety Practice

Sample questions

1. 01Under CDM 2015 Regulation 11, what is the principal designer's duty when planning the pre-construction phase?

   • ATo prepare the construction phase plan before work begins, and to keep it under review for the whole of the build programme on the client's behalf
   • BTo supervise the day-to-day construction work on site, and to sign off in writing each contractor's method statement before it starts
   • CTo notify the HSE on an F10 form before construction work starts, and to update that notification whenever the project changes during the build
   • DTo plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase, including identifying and eliminating foreseeable risks

   Why: CDM 2015 Reg 11 places the principal designer in charge of health and safety during pre-construction. They must plan, manage, monitor and coordinate work to identify, eliminate or control foreseeable risks for those building, using and maintaining the structure.

2. 02Under CDM 2015, when must the client appoint a principal contractor?

   • AWhenever the contractor directly employs more than ten workers at any one time — the headcount at which Reg 13 duties transfer, whatever other contractors are engaged
   • BAutomatically on any project scheduled to last longer than 30 working days — CDM makes the appointment automatic then, whatever the number of contractors
   • CWhen more than one contractor is, or is reasonably foreseeable to be, working on the project at the same time — the client must appoint one in writing
   • DWhenever the total contract value exceeds £100,000 — the money threshold at which Reg 5 requires a written appointment before work starts

   Why: CDM 2015 Reg 5 requires the client to appoint a principal contractor in writing whenever more than one contractor is involved (or foreseeably will be). The principal contractor then takes on Reg 13 duties — planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating the construction phase.

3. 03Under CDM 2015 Reg 15, what must a contractor do before starting work on site?

   • ACompile the health and safety file for handover to the client at the end of the project, and keep a copy of it in the office for the whole life of the structure
   • BObtain written confirmation from the client that the whole site has been surveyed, and is entirely free of asbestos-containing materials, before starting
   • CAppoint a principal designer and a principal contractor on the client's behalf, and notify the HSE on an F10 form before any construction work begins on the site
   • DPlan, manage and monitor construction work under their control so it is carried out without risks to health and safety, and provide site-specific induction

   Why: CDM 2015 Reg 15 says every contractor must plan, manage and monitor their own work and ensure workers under their control receive a site-specific induction, suitable training and information before starting.