CDM 2015 Compliance Software for UK Construction
TL;DR
Workforce Guardian helps UK construction companies meet their CDM 2015 obligations digitally. Manage pre-construction information, track Principal Contractor and Principal Designer duties, generate Construction Phase Plans, collect RAMS sign-offs, and produce HSE-ready evidence — all in one platform.
What is CDM 2015?
CDM 2015 (Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015) is the primary UK legislation governing health and safety in construction projects. It defines legal duties for Clients, Principal Designers, Principal Contractors, Contractors, and Workers — setting out what each duty holder must do before and during construction to protect the health and safety of all persons affected by the work.
CDM 2015 applies to virtually all construction work in the UK, including new builds, refurbishment, maintenance, and demolition.
Who it's for
- Principal Contractors who must manage the Construction Phase Plan and coordinate H&S across all contractors on site
- Principal Designers responsible for pre-construction H&S coordination and the Health and Safety File
- Clients who need to appoint duty holders correctly and ensure pre-construction information is compiled
- H&S Managers who manage CDM compliance documentation across a portfolio of projects
- Contractors who must co-operate with the Principal Contractor and comply with site rules
UK compliance notes
CDM 2015 applies to all construction projects in Great Britain (separate regulations apply in Northern Ireland). Key obligations include:
- Notification — Projects exceeding 30 working days with more than 20 workers simultaneously, or 500 person-days, must be notified to HSE via the F10 form
- Construction Phase Plan — The Principal Contractor must produce and update this before construction begins
- Health and Safety File — The Principal Designer must compile and hand over an H&S File to the Client at project completion
- Pre-Construction Information — The Client must provide relevant H&S information to designers and contractors before work begins
- Competence — All duty holders must be competent for their role
Failure to comply can result in HSE enforcement notices, prosecution, unlimited fines, and in serious cases, imprisonment.
How Workforce Guardian helps
Project Structure Management — Set up projects with all CDM duty holders assigned. Track notification requirements and generate F10 reminder alerts when thresholds are approached.
RAMS and Pre-Task Documentation — AI-assisted RAMS generation ensures every high-risk activity has a documented risk assessment and method statement before work begins — a key CDM Principal Contractor duty.
Digital Sign-Off Records — Every operative's RAMS sign-off is recorded with timestamp, name, and project context. This forms a core part of CDM compliance evidence.
Incident and Near-Miss Logging — Complete incident records with photos, timestamps, and investigation notes support CDM requirements for monitoring and reviewing H&S performance.
Evidence Pack Generation — Compile all CDM-relevant records — RAMS, sign-offs, check-ins, incidents, safety checks — into a structured evidence pack at any point during or after a project.
Construction Phase Plan Support — Template-based Construction Phase Plan creation, with all site-specific details populated from your Workforce Guardian project data.
Checklist: CDM 2015 Principal Contractor duties
| CDM 2015 Duty | How Workforce Guardian Helps |
|---|---|
| Plan, manage and monitor construction phase | Project dashboard with live worker and task status |
| Ensure RAMS in place before work starts | AI-generated RAMS with mandatory sign-off gate |
| Ensure workers are briefed on site rules | Digital induction process with confirmation |
| Co-ordinate H&S across all contractors | Multi-contractor site access and sign-off tracking |
| Prevent unauthorised site access | Geofenced check-in/out with site boundary alerts |
| Maintain incident log | Mobile incident reporting with photo capture |
| Review and update Construction Phase Plan | Template with project data integration |
| Compile and hand over H&S File | Evidence pack generation |
FAQs
What is the difference between CDM 2015 Principal Contractor and Contractor?
The Principal Contractor is the main contractor appointed by the Client who has overall responsibility for managing H&S during the construction phase. They coordinate all contractors on site and must produce the Construction Phase Plan. Individual Contractors are responsible for their own workers' H&S and must co-operate with the Principal Contractor's site rules.
Does CDM 2015 apply to small construction projects?
CDM 2015 applies to all construction work in Great Britain, including small domestic projects. However, the level of duty varies. Projects with more than one contractor must have a Principal Contractor appointed. Only projects exceeding the notification thresholds require an F10 notification to HSE. All projects, regardless of size, require a risk assessment.
What is the Construction Phase Plan?
The Construction Phase Plan (CPP) is a document produced by the Principal Contractor before construction begins. It describes the management arrangements for H&S on site, including: site rules, welfare arrangements, emergency procedures, and how H&S will be managed and monitored. Workforce Guardian provides a CPP template populated with your project's specific data.
What happens during an HSE inspection?
During an HSE inspection, inspectors typically want to see: the Construction Phase Plan, evidence that RAMS are in place for high-risk activities, records of worker briefings and sign-offs, site induction records, incident logs, and evidence of ongoing monitoring. Workforce Guardian's evidence pack provides all of this in one structured document.
Can CDM 2015 software help with the Health and Safety File?
Yes. Workforce Guardian enables Principal Designers (or Principal Contractors in smaller projects) to compile the project H&S File from the records generated throughout the construction phase. The evidence pack feature aggregates all relevant records into a structured format suitable for handover to the Client.
What are the penalties for CDM 2015 non-compliance?
HSE can issue Improvement Notices (requiring action within a set timeframe), Prohibition Notices (stopping work immediately), or prosecute duty holders. Convictions can result in unlimited fines for organisations and unlimited fines plus up to two years imprisonment for individuals. The HSE also publishes enforcement records, which can affect business reputation and insurance.