The Principal Designer (PD) as a legal duty holder under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, must plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety during the pre-construction phase to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the project is carried out without risks to health or safety.
The PD must be a designer, but not necessarily the lead designer, architect or project manager, as the PD role is focused upon health and safety, not aesthetics, programme or budget. Clarification from the HSE states that the PD need not carry out design on the project because their CDM duties are confined to health and safety management.
The PD duty holder must possess the skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability related to health and safety in construction which the Regulations demand.
Omnia Projects are experienced in undertaking the PD role, including providing Principal Designer Representatives for National Grid schemes in accordance with their TP137 procedure.
Furthermore, we also provide CDM Advisors who assist Clients, Principal Contractors, Contractors, Designers, and Principal Designs in dischargingtheir duties under the CDM Regulations 2015.