Health and Safety Executive

Clients: roles and responsibilities

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

All those who work in the construction industry have their part to play looking after their own health and safety and in improving the industry's health and safety record.

A CDM client is someone who is having construction or building work carried out, unless they are a domestic client. A domestic client is someone who lives, or will live, in the premises where the work is carried out. The premises must not relate to any trade, business or other undertaking. Although a domestic client does not have duties under CDM, those who work for them on construction projects will.

On all projects clients will need to:

  • Check competence and resources of all appointees
  • Ensure there are suitable management arrangements for the project welfare facilities
  • Allow sufficient time and resources for all stages
  • Provide pre-construction information to designers and contractors

Where projects are notifiable under CDM 2007, clients must also:  

  • Appoint a CDM co-ordinator
  • Appoint a principal contractor
  • Make sure that construction work does not start unless a construction phase plan is in place and there are adequate welfare facilities on site
  • Provide information relating to the health and safety file to the CDM co-ordinator
  • Retain and provide access to the health and safety file

Further information


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Updated 03.10.11