CDM Risk Assessment.

CDM Risk Assessment.

Designers Responsibility in Ensuring Compliance with CDM Regulations.

Complete Design.

Under the CDM Regulations, a designer is obligated to assess the design proposals right from the start and throughout the design process. Before any construction project commences, it is a requirement that a complete design of the structure is provided. This design is what gives a guideline and its from it that aspects of the expected risk can be drawn and mitigation measures set in place.

Material Type and Quantity.

As designers, it is our sole responsibility to advise on the material that will be used and quantify how much of the content is needed in the construction. In compliance with the CDM regulations, it is the responsibility of the designer, not to recommend the use of unauthorized materials like asbestos, which is carcinogenic. As designers, it is our responsibility to eliminate risk by designing it out. In regard to quantifying, should construction materials not be well quantified, there stands the chance of material misuse. Other risks associated with this include an excess weight for the structure, which may be a health hazard as the fabric is most like to collapse.

Specification of materials.

After carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project region, the designers must clearly outline the specific materials to be used on site. For instance, should the site entail handling heavy metals, then there would be a recommendation to have site workers putting on the appropriate safety gear. It is this safety gear that is expected to prevent the other risks associated with the construction process.

Clearly Outlined Procedures.

In assessing the risks, should there a possibility of using sophisticated machines, then it becomes the designers’ responsibility to ensure that the operators are adequately trained. Operation manuals ought to be provided too to ensure the safety of the operators.

Construction Activities and associated Risks.

On any construction site, there certain activities as Excavation works which occur during the foundation setting time. After the construction proceeds and the structure is a few floors high, there are crane works, that involve lifting of construction materials. In a construction site, we equally have general machine operation and construction work. There are certain risks associated to these activities. The risks include; cuts by sharp objects, being hit by falling objects and even breaking of body parts.

Detailed Designers Risk Assessment Method.

Risk assessment, as a general thing, has specific outlined procedures in which it is conducted. These procedures include:

• Identifying and clearly describing every task that needs a risk assessment.
• Determining the health hazards in each task to be undertaken
• Assessing the likelihood and the severity that is most likely to come from each task
• Putting in place control measures
• Allocating the responsibilities to some individuals to ensure the enforcement of the control measures
• Conduct proper training and supervision at the workplace.

The risk assessment can thus be done effectively through the hierarchy of risk control as provided for in the “CDM Regulations 2015: Principal Designer Information Sheet”. (John, 19)

Ethical Design.

There are several ethical issues that surround the engineering profession. Being specific to the civil engineering industry, there are such issues to do with ethics in the design process. This problem is evident due to the existence of quarks who pose as engineers and thus produce substandard designs. Another ethical issue encompasses the registration of engineers; this has led to having less qualified engineers in the market. As a result, it has contributed to having substandard work being done by intruders into the industry.

Reference.

Summerhayes, Stuart D. CDM Regulations 2015 Procedures Manual. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.