News on 11 October 2000
Amended regulations for designers have come into force,
clarifying that they are responsible for health and safety in all designs,
whether prepared by themselves, an employee or other person under their
control.
Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM),
there was some scope for confusion about whether designers who arranged
for someone else to prepare a design remained responsible for health and
safety. It was the HSE’s interpretation on the intention of the law
that they did. This was confirmed recently in a decision by the Court
of Appeal.
The clarified regulations came into force on the 2nd October. The HSE
is now in consultation on new guidance for the CDM Regulations 2000.
