Free UK construction tool

CDM 2015 Duty Checker

Answer 5 questions about your project. Get a clear list of your CDM 2015 duties, what documentation you need, and whether F10 notification is required. Free, no signup needed.

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Which role best describes you on this project?

About CDM 2015

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 - CDM 2015 - are the legal framework that governs how UK construction projects are planned and managed. They place legal duties on every party involved: clients, designers, contractors, and workers.

Failure to meet your CDM duties carries criminal liability under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Penalties can reach unlimited fines and prison sentences for the most serious breaches.

This tool walks you through 5 quick questions and identifies which duty holder you are, what documentation you need to produce, and whether your project requires F10 notification to the HSE.

CDM 2015 questions answered

Who has CDM 2015 duties?+

Five parties: clients, principal designers, principal contractors, designers, and contractors. Workers also have duties. Every UK construction project has at least one of these duty holders.

When is a Principal Contractor required?+

Whenever there is more than one contractor on the project. Single-contractor projects do not need a Principal Contractor - the contractor takes on those duties themselves.

When is a Principal Designer required?+

Same trigger as Principal Contractor - whenever there is more than one contractor. The Principal Designer plans and coordinates safety in the design phase.

What is an F10 notification?+

Notification to the HSE for projects exceeding 30 working days with 20+ workers simultaneously, OR exceeding 500 person-days. Submitted online before construction starts.

Do domestic clients have CDM duties?+

Largely exempt. Duties transfer to the contractor (single-contractor) or Principal Contractor (multi-contractor).

What documentation does CDM require?+

Pre-construction information from the client. Construction Phase Plan from the Principal Contractor. Health and Safety File at handover from the Principal Designer. Plus project-specific RAMS from each contractor.

Does CDM apply to small jobs?+

Yes - to all UK construction work regardless of size. Duties are proportionate to risk - a one-day job has minimal documentation, a major project has substantial documentation.

How are CDM breaches enforced?+

By the HSE. Improvement notices, prohibition notices (which can stop work), and criminal prosecution. Six-figure fines are common in serious cases.

CDM-compliant documentation in one platform

Complys generates project-specific RAMS in 30 seconds, tracks worker competence, manages compliance documents, and creates handover packs that meet CDM requirements. 90-day free trial.