Anticipated changes to the COM regulations will cut bureaucracy and make clients more accountable, placing a growing emphasis on employment of specialist safety coordinators, believes cost and project management consultant Faithful & Gould. The consultancy, which is widely recognised for its expertise in health and safety management, says construction organisations need to track developments in the proposed Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2006 carefully and monitor progress following closure of the consultative process on 29 July 2005. In essence, the new regulations are intended to improve the management of risk by bringing together existing regulations, simplifying procedures, maximising flexibility to suit the myriad of contractual arrangements, strengthening co-ordination and communication and focusing on planning and management rather than paperwork. The content of the draft Regulations is contained in the Consultative Document. In essence, it is proposed that the COM Regulations (1994/2000) and the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (1996) are revoked in full, with other relevant documentation being amended to bring it in line. This should assist greatly in simplifying compliance and substantially avoid the need for constant cross-referencing.
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