CDM SiteInspections

CDM 2015 regulations in GB guide construction safety from start to finish, with HSE's 'Managing health and safety in construction L153' as a key resource.

HSE's GuidanceDocument

Managing health and safety in construction L153' offers detailed guidance on CDM 2015.

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  • Importance of Compliance Inspections

    Regular inspections ensure adherence to Health & Safety and CDM regulations.

  • Appointing Suitable Personnel

    CDM 2015 sets safety standards for all involved in construction work in GB.

  • Legal Requirements for Construction

    L153 outlines legal requirements, ensuring safety throughout the construction process.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can everyone get to their place of work safely – and work there safely?
  • Are access routes in good condition and clearly signposted?
  • Are edges which people could fall from provided with double guard rails or other suitable edge protection?
  • Are holes protected with clearly marked and fixed covers to prevent falls?
  • Is the site tidy, and are materials stored safely?
  • Is lighting good enough?
  • Are there emergency procedures, eg for evacuating the site in case of fire?
  • Do people on site know what the procedures are?
  • Is there a means of raising the alarm, and does it work?
  • Is there a way to contact the emergency services from site?
  • Are there enough suitable escape routes and are these kept clear?
  • Is the first ­aid provision sufficient?
  • Is there enough support for the excavation, or has it been sloped or battered back to a safe angle?
  • Is a safe method used for putting in the support, without people working in an unsupported trench?
  • Is there safe access into the excavation, eg a sufficiently long, secured ladder?
  • Are there barriers or other protection to stop people and vehicles falling in?
  • Are properly secured stop blocks provided to prevent tipping vehicles falling in?
  • Could the excavation affect the stability of neighbouring structures or services?
  • Are materials, spoil and plant stored away from the edge of
  • the excavation to reduce the chance of a collapse?
  • Is the excavation regularly inspected by a competent person?
  • Is the quantity of flammable materials, liquids and gases kept to a minimum?
  • Are they properly stored?
  • Are flammable gas cylinders returned to a ventilated store at the end of the shift?
  • Are smoking and other ignition sources banned in areas where gases or flammable liquids are stored or used?
  • Are gas cylinders, associated hoses and equipment properly maintained and in good condition?
  • When gas cylinders are not in use, are the valves fully closed?
  • Is flammable and combustible waste removed regularly and stored in suitable bins or skips?
  • Are suitable fire extinguishers provided?
  • Has exposure to HAV been avoided or reduced as much as possible by selecting suitable work methods and plant?
  • Have you chosen the lowest vibration tool that is suitable and can do the job efficiently?
  • Have you limited the time that each worker uses high vibration tools such as concrete breakers, angle grinders or hammer drills as far as possible?
  • Have workers had information and training so they know what the risks are from hand­arm vibration (HAV) on site, and what they need to do to avoid those risks?
  • Have vibrating tools been properly maintained includingkeeping bits and drills sharp?
  • Have you arranged health surveillance for people exposed to high levels of hand­arm vibration, especially when exposed for long periods?
  • Have you identified all harmful substances and materials, such as asbestos, lead, solvents, paints, cement and silica dust (eg from kerb or paving cutting)?
  • Have you checked whether a licensed contractor is needed to deal with asbestos on site? (Most work with asbestos requires a licence, although you can do some very limited work with materials that contain asbestos without one.)
  • Have you identified and put into place precautions to prevent or control exposure to hazardous substances, by:
  • Doing the work in a different way, to remove the risk entirely?
  • Using a less hazardous material?
  • Using tools fitted with dust extraction?
  • Using tools fitted with water suppression?
  • Ladders and stepladders are the last resort. Can you buy or hire some alternative equipment that would provide a safer means of access?
  • Is the work of short duration and low risk?
  • Are they in good condition?
  • Do ladders rest against a solid surface and not on fragile or insecure materials?
  • Are ladders secured at the top and bottom to prevent them slipping sideways and outwards?
  • Do ladders rise at least a metre above their landing place?
  • If not, are there other handholds available?
  • Are the ladders positioned so that users don’t have to overstretch?
  • Do you have to use the top three rungs of a stepladder? If so, your stepladder is too short.
  • Is the user competent? Those using ladders should be trained to use the equipment safely.
  • Are there heavy materials such as roof trusses, concrete lintels, kerbstones or bagged products which could cause problems if they have to be moved by hand?
  • If so, can you:
    • choose lighter materials?
    • use trolleys, hoists, telehandlers and other plant or
    • equipment so that manual lifting of heavy objects is kept to a minimum?
    • order materials such as cement and aggregates in 25 kg bags?
    • avoid the repetitive laying of heavy building blocks or other masonry units weighing more than 20 kg?
    • Have people been instructed and trained how to use lifting aids and other handling equipment safely?
    • Have people been trained how to lift safely?
  • Have you identified and assessed workers’ exposure to noise?
  • Have workers had information and training so they know what the risks are from noise on site, and what they need to do to avoid those risks?
  • Can the noise be reduced by using different working methods or selecting quieter plant, eg by fitting breakers and other plant or machinery with silencers?
  • Are people not involved in the work kept away from the source of the noise?
  • Is suitable hearing protection provided and worn in noisy areas?
  • Have hearing protection zones been marked?
  • Have you arranged health surveillance for people exposed to high levels of noise?
  • Is the work fenced off from the public?
  • Are roadworks barriered off and lit?
  • Are the public protected from falling material?
  • Are scaffolds erected, altered and dismantled by competent people?
  • Are all uprights provided with base plates (and, where necessary, timber sole plates)?
  • Are all uprights, ledgers, braces and struts in position?
  • Is the scaffold secured to the building or structure in enough places to prevent collapse?
  • Are there double guard rails and toe boards, or other means of preventing a fall?
  • Are additional brick guards provided to prevent materials falling from scaffolds?
  • Are the working platforms fully boarded, and are the boards arranged to avoid tipping or tripping?
  • Has the scaffold been inspected, and the findings documented?
  • Is the scaffold strong enough to carry the weight of materials?
  • stored on it and are these evenly distributed?
  • Are scaffolds being properly maintained?
  • Does a competent person inspect the scaffold or proprietary tower scaffold regularly, eg at least once a week; and always after it has been altered.
  • Are tower scaffolds being erected using either the ‘3T’ or advance guard rail method, and are they being used in accordance with suppliers’ instructions?
  • Have the wheels of tower scaffolds been locked when in use and are the platforms empty when they are moved?
  • Are the right tools or machinery being used for the job?
  • Are all dangerous parts guarded, eg gears, chain drives, projecting engine shafts?
  • Are guards secured and in good repair?
  • Are tools and machinery maintained in good repair and are all safety devices operating correctly?
  • Are all operators trained and competent?
  • Are vehicles and pedestrians kept apart?
  • If not, do you:
    • provide barriers to separate them as much as you can?
    • tell people (eg your workers and anyone who lives or works in the property where you are working) about the problem, and what they need to do about it?
    • display warning signs?
  • Are people kept away from slewing vehicles or, if not, can you use a zero tail­swing machine?
  • Can reversing be avoided, eg by using a one­way system or a turning area? If not, are properly trained banksmen used?
  • Are vehicles and plant properly maintained, eg do the steering, brakes, hydraulics, mirrors and any other vision aid work properly? Are tyres in good condition and at the correct pressure?
  • Have drivers received proper training and are they competent and fit to use the vehicles or plant they are operating?
  • Are loads properly secured?
  • Have you made sure that passengers are only carried on vehicles designed to carry them?
  • Have you made sure that plant and vehicles are not used on dangerous slopes?
  • If you need to work on or drive across sloping ground, have you checked that the plant and vehicles are safe to use?
  • Are toilets readily available and are they kept clean and properly lit?
  • Are there washbasins, hot and cold (or warm) running water, soap and towels?
  • Are the washbasins large enough to wash up to the elbow and are they kept clean?
  • Is there somewhere to change, dry and store clothing?
  • Is drinking water and cups provided?
  • Is there a place where workers can sit, make hot drinks and prepare food?
  • Can everyone who needs to use them get to the welfare facilities easily and safely?
  • Are welfare facilities kept warm and well ventilated?
  • Is the boundary secure?
  • Are all ladders removed or their rungs boarded so that they cannot be used?
  • Are excavations and openings securely covered or fenced off?
  • Is all plant immobilised to prevent unauthorised use?
  • Are bricks and materials safely stacked?
  • Are flammable or dangerous substances locked away in secure storage places?
  • Have you planned the work properly and identified suitable precautions to make sure work can be carried out safely?
  • Have you thought about whether you can avoid working at height by using different equipment or a different work method?
  • Can you use equipment that will prevent a fall from happening, such as scaffolding or a mobile elevating work platform?
  • Can you put in place measures to reduce the distance and consequences of a fall should one happen, such as nets, soft landing systems or safety decks?
  • Will the weather conditions threaten the health and safety of those carrying out the work?
  • Have you thought about all the options and are you certain that you are gaining access to height using the safest means possible?