New Legislation due to come into force in 6 April 07

Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007

Revise, consolidate & simplify CDM Regulations and incorporate Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations
Maximise flexibility of the new Regulations
Strengthen requirements on cooperation & coordination to encourage better teamwork
Increased focus on effective planning and management not the "Plan" & other paperwork
New single trigger for notification, appointments & preparation of the plan, 30 days, 500 person days
The Client Agent is removed
Enhanced Client duties emphasising management arrangements
New CDM Co-ordinator will replace existing Planning Supervisor role empowered to advise clients & a pivotal figure in the process. The onus of the role is on co-ordination, communication and co-operation with all the key parties, but at all times acting on behalf of the client to ensure they discharge their duty to manage projects. Co-ordinators are only required for notifiable projects either phase 1 or 2 status i.e. the complexity of the project, as such, they are required to have a thorough working knowledge of health & Safety in construction and of the design process. To overcome misinterpretation and misunderstanding the HSE and partners produced a competency table in the ACoP. Click here to download the table. This table has 3 columns:
Column 1 - is a list of elements by which the client assesses the competency for their particular project and the companies/individuals involved
Column 2 - is the standard against which the assessment is made
Column 3 - is a list of examples of how these competencies can be assessed. The common misconception is that column 3 is definitive and enforceable IT IS NOT. It is as it says, examples and as such guidance of evidence which can be shown in other ways.

Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005

Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005 was implemented on 1 October 06 ( England and Wales ) and similar legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland will emphasise the need for an employer to manage fire safety risks within the workplace

What has changed?

The 'responsible person' must ensure the safety of everyone who uses their premises
Fire safety law will be covered by one piece of legislation
The emphasis will be on preventing fires and reducing risk
The 'responsible person' must ensure that fire protection equipment (for example, fire extinguishers) and facilities are maintained in good working order
Fire certificates will be abolished

Who is the Responsible Person?

The employer, if the workplace is under his control, or where not -
The person who has the overall control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with any trade or business (for profit or not)
The owner, where the person in control of premises does not control the trade or business carried on
The responsible person must carry out a fire safety risk assessment. The Fire and Rescue Service will carry out inspections and failure to comply could lead to enforcement action or even prosecution

Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 came into force 13 October 2006

Asbestos Worker Protection - proposed second amendment to Directive 83/477/EC
Refocus protection onto maintenance workers, such as electricians, plumbers and decorators, at risk of accidental exposure to asbestos
This is an amendment to existing EU legislation
HSE propose to make additional amendments to simplify and clarify the regulatory regime