E014:07 5 April 2007 Photocall release

New CDM Regulations launched at industry stakeholder event

The new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2007) were launched today at an industry stakeholder event at St Pancras Station. Attending the event was the Minister for Health and Safety, Lord McKenzie and a cross section of senior representatives from the construction industry. The new Regulations have been developed through partnership between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the construction industry and are expected to see a step change improvement in health and safety performance.

Lord McKenzie, Minister for Health and Safety said:

“Construction is a boom industry, contributing around £256 billion per year by turnover to the UK economy and employing over two million people in around 250,000 firms. However, the industry remains undeniably dangerous and all too often demonstrates the unacceptable human cost of getting things wrong.”

“CDM 2007 is the result of the continuation of a successful partnership between HSE and the construction industry which has proved so beneficial in developing a set of Regulations based on sensible risk management and practical application. I urge the industry to play its part in ensuring the principles behind these Regulations are widely and effectively promulgated, and put into practice. This will bring both health and safety and business benefits to all concerned.”

For more information/ jpg versions of the photographs please call Barbara Hewitt on 020 7717 6455.