Proposed new regulations covering safety and management in the construction industry will devolve responsibility to clients and designers. The construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) came into force in 1994 with the aim of improving risk management on UK construction sites and reducing the number of deaths and injuries in the industry. However, ten years after the introduction of CDM, the construction industry still has one of the worst health and safety records of any sector. Many in the industry say CDM has not helped to rectify this as intended, claiming that the regulations have not driven down the number of accidents and have failed to bring about a change in the mindset of clients and designers. CDM has also been accused of lacking the flexibility to take account of modern procurement routes, and of increasing bureaucracy and 'tick-box' paperwork.
展开▼
