Construction Design and Management Regulations (1994)

Regulation 13 (2a) of CDM states: "Every designer shall ensure that any design he prepares and which he is aware will be used for the purposes of construction work includes among the design considerations adequate regard to the need:

(i) to avoid foreseeable risks to the health and safety of any person at work carry out construction work or cleaning work in or on the structure at any time, or of any person who may be affected by the work of such a person at work,

(ii) to combat at source risks to the health and safety of any person at work carrying out construction work or cleaning work in or on the structure at any time, or of any person who may be affected by the work of such a person at work, and

(iii) to give priority to measures which will protect all persons at work who may carry out construction work or cleaning work at any time and all persons who may be affected by the work of such persons at work over measures which only protect each person carrying out such work."

• Employers Liability Insurance

A legal requirement if you employing anyone. By entering into a contract be it verbal or written self builders employ a builder. 

As the site owner it is your responsibility to offer a 'duty of care' to ensure workers on site do not get injured.

Does the project have a Health & Safety Plan?

Who obtains and approves the contractors Method Statements and Risk Assessments so as to minimise risk and mitigate potential claims?

Who assesses and inspects the Scaffold? There is a legal requirement for a scaffold register to be kept.

• Public Liability Insurance

Legal liability for claims made by any other person or body in respect of death, injury or loss arising from your building operations. Self build policies include cover for all aspects and can be tailor made to suit your requirements. It is imperative you have the correct amount of cover as claim amounts can be large.

Who assesses the risk so as to reduce premiums?

• Works Insurance

You need to ensure that `Site Risks` such as theft, vandalism, structural damage, flood and storm damage, damage by heavy plant and delivery vehicles etc are covered. Once built into your self build the ownership of the materials becomes yours so you need to have them covered also.

• Builders Insurances

Has your builder got the right insurances? Are they up to date? Do they cover everything? They need to be insured against Public Liability and Employers liability and should have cover for defective materials and defective or shoddy workmanship. Who owns the materials and plant on site? Are they insured? This should all be covered in the agreed building contract (see here)

• Services Connection

Service connections, the Local Authority can require over five million pounds of cover during the connection works.

• Legal Expenses

Legal costs insurance is required in case you are sued for damages, involved in claims regarding boundaries, land titles, covenants, ransom strips and wayleaves.

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Only a Project Manager will ensure all is assessed correctly, covered in the Project Plan and managed throughout the build.

Ignorance is no defence!

 

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