The publication of this guide is a remarkable achievement. Although one editor is mentioned, it is clear that the document has had a massive input from the membership of the Association for Project Safety (APS), formerly the Association of Planning Supervisors. The term ‘guide’ is more than a little misleading as the very detailed text provides its readers with a complete description of what to do in the execution of the role of the CDM coordinator under the 2007 Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. Apart from a short introduction, the publication is split into 12 sections–each with its own ‘How to do it’ recommendations and most sections have an additional, and very helpful, part on ‘when things aren't going right’. It is these latter sections where the accumulated expertise of the APS since 1994 shines through, but, bearing in mind the amount of detail within the text, it is also the case that this publication is not aimed at newcomers to the role of CDM coordination.
The 12 sections closely follow the natural sequence of events starting with the desire of the client for construction work seeking to satisfy himself about the appointment of a competent CDM coordinator for his notifiable project, right through to the CDM requirement for the preparation of the health and safety file. The longest section (section 8) quite rightly concerns itself with ‘working with designers', and this is filled with perceptive ideas and suggestions; however, this could have been combined with section 11 on design work during the construction period where the same advice and recommendations are equally valid. Another informative section is section 12 on the delivery of a suitable health and safety file. There is within this one section an excellent series of nine illustrative ‘boxes', which give valuable supporting material for all practitioners engaged on this task.
In order to widen the readership of the document the authors might care to consider the following suggestions.
Adding a strategic overview section at the beginning. Having so much detailed text available is one thing, but a few more strategic ‘signposts' could improve its readability to those with less experience.
The essence of possible different approaches would be helped if there were some more relatively simple case studies within the text or even within some sort of case study annex. This has been done successfully elsewhere.1
The relationships between the various CDM parties and any additional persons such as the ‘project manager’ (mentioned here and there) would become a bit more obvious if there could be some well-chosen line diagrams.
The title page of each section could be reordered to give a more complete overview of the section's content, the CDM Regulations which are directly involved, the paragraphs of the CDM ACoP which are directly involved, and cross-referencing, where appropriate, to other sections.
The Regulations have created a new and taxing role for the CDM coordinator, and this document, while aimed at practitioners of this role, is also of value and relevance to designers and principal contractors. The ring-binder format is to be welcomed as this document is ‘work in progress', and as experience of CDM 2007 becomes available so any revisions, improvements and updates to the text might easily be accommodated.
