Member body calls for industry views on CDM 2015 amid concerns over clarity and consistency.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is calling on construction professionals to share their experiences of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015).
The initiative, led by CIOB’s Health, Safety & Wellbeing Advisory Panel, seeks to gather insight into how the regulations are currently interpreted, applied and enforced across projects of all sizes.
The legislation applies to both commercial and domestic construction work, regardless of scale or duration, and is intended to ensure consistent safety standards throughout a project’s lifecycle.
However, more than a decade on from their introduction, there is growing sentiment that the regulations could be improved, particularly in light of newer legislation such as the Building Safety Act 2022, which has significantly reshaped the regulatory landscape.
The survey will explore several key areas, including levels of formal training, consistency of interpretation, and overall effectiveness of the regulations in improving safety outcomes.
Source of frustration
Ben Powell, chair of CIOB’s Health, Safety & Wellbeing Advisory Panel, said: “We hear that for many people, including designers, contractors and clients, the current CDM regulations are a constant source of frustration, with varying degrees of understanding over who is responsible for what.
“There are also questions around the effectiveness of the regulations when we still see so many incidents involving falls from height, for example.
“Just over a decade on from their introduction, it’s important to gather quantitative data on how they are being interpreted and applied, and where they could evolve to reflect the construction landscape in 2026.”
Findings from the survey will inform recommendations to the HSE and policymakers on potential reforms to CDM 2015.
The survey is open until 30 April 2026 and can be completed here.
