CDM 2007 Regulations

CDM 2007 replaces the 1994 regulations (1995 addopted) on 6th April 2007. The new regs look much improved in their focus on actually reducing the risks rather than just producing the paper work that says you reduced the risks...

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The effort devoted to planning and managing health and safety should be in proportion to the risks and complexity associated with the project. When deciding what you need to do to comply with these Regulations, your focus should always be on action necessary to reduce and manage risks. Any paperwork produced should help with communication and risk management. Paperwork which adds little to the management of risk is a waste of effort, and can be a dangerous distraction from the real business of risk reduction and management.

Reading the document, my house is not notifiable as I am a domestic client:

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Domestic clients have no client duties under CDM2007, which means that there is no legal requirement for appointment of a CDM co-ordinator or principal contractor when such projects reach the notification threshold. Similarly, there is no need to notify HSE where projects for domestic clients reach the notification threshold. However, designers and contractors still have their normal duties as set out in Parts 2 and 4 of the Regulations, and domestic clients will have duties under Part 4 of the Regulations if they control the way in which construction work is carried out (see paragraph 9).

But of course we still have obligations:

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Part 2 covers general management duties which apply to all construction
projects, including those which are non-notifiable.

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Part 4 of the Regulations applies to all construction work carried out on construction sites, and covers physical safeguards which need to be provided to prevent danger. Duties to achieve these standards are held by contractors who actually carry out the work, irrespective of whether they are employers or are selfemployed. Duties are also held by those who do not do construction work themselves, but control the way in which the work is done. In each case, the extent of the duty is in proportion to the degree of control which the individual or organisation has over the work in question.

The key issue will be the demolition part, the doc says this:

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Although there is no requirement for the formal appointment of a CDM coordinator or principal contractor and for a construction phase plan for non notifiable projects, regulations 5 and 6 do require co-operation and co-ordination between all members of the project team. For low risk projects, a low-key approach will be sufficient. In higher risk projects, for example those involving demolition, a more rigorous approach to co-ordination, co-operation and planning will be needed. Guidance given to CDM co-ordinators and principal contractors in this document gives an indication as to what is needed, but any action taken should be in proportion to the risk which the work creates. The architect, lead designer or contractor who is carrying out the bulk of the design work should normally co-ordinate the health and safety aspects of the design work; the builder or main contractor, if there is one, should normally co-ordinate construction work.

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It is vital that those doing the work understand the risks involved and what to do about them. If the risks are low and the precautions well understood by those carrying out the work, then there will be no need for a written plan. In other simple cases a brief summary that clearly sets out who does what and in what order will be enough. Where the risks are higher, for example where the work involves:
(a) structural alterations;
(b) deep excavations, and those in unstable or contaminated ground;
(c) unusual working methods or safeguards;
(d) ionising radiation or other significant health hazards;
(e) nearby high voltage powerlines;
(f) a risk of falling into water which is, or may become, fast flowing;
(g) diving;
(h) explosives;
(i) heavy or complex lifting operations;
then something closer to the construction phase plan will be needed.

When carrying out demolition, regulation 29 requires those in control of the work to produce a written plan showing how danger will be prevented.

i.e. so long as we appoint a decent demolitions contractor this whould be their remit.