CheckerFree tool
Do I need to notify HSE about this project?
Answer five questions and find out in about a minute. Free, no account, nothing saved.
Doing this on every job?
HubTrack asks these questions once per job and keeps the answer with the job, alongside the construction phase plan, the people and their tickets, and the record of who signed off what.
What the rule actually says
A project is notifiable if the construction work is scheduled to (a) last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project; or (b) exceed 500 person days.
regulation 6 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 — legislation.gov.uk
The “and” is the point. Under the old 2007 regulations the duration test stood alone, and plenty of people still work to “over 30 days means notify”. Since 2015 a long job with a small gang is not notifiable on duration alone. Every threshold is strictly greater than — exactly 30 days, exactly 20 workers, exactly 500 person days are all not notifiable.
Who notifies. The client. Where the client is a domestic client — someone having work done on their own home, not in connection with a business — the duty passes to the contractor where there is only one, the principal contractor where there is more than one, or the principal designer where there is a written agreement to that effect.
When and how. In writing, as soon as is practicable before the construction phase begins, using HSE’s online F10 form. Paper, post and email are no longer accepted. Railway and guided transport work goes to the ORR instead. Nuclear and defence sites go to the ONR.
What a “no” does not mean. Not notifiable does not mean no duties. A construction phase plan is required for construction work whether or not the project is notifiable, and where there is more than one contractor the client must appoint a principal designer and a principal contractor in writing. “Not notifiable” is not “CDM does not apply to me”.
Questions people ask
What makes a construction project notifiable?
It is notifiable if the work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers on site at the same time at any point, or to exceed 500 person days in total. Either one makes it notifiable.
Is a job over 30 days always notifiable?
No — and this is the most common mistake. Since the 2015 regulations, the duration test only applies alongside the headcount: longer than 30 working days and more than 20 people on site at once. A six-month job with a gang of six is not notifiable on duration alone, though it may still exceed 500 person days.
Who has to send the F10?
The client. Where the client is a domestic client — someone having work done on their own home — the duty passes to the contractor, or to the principal contractor where there is more than one contractor, or to the principal designer where there is a written agreement.
When does it have to be sent?
In writing, as soon as is practicable before the construction phase begins.
My project is not notifiable. Is there anything else to do?
Yes. A construction phase plan is required for construction work whether or not the project is notifiable, and if more than one contractor is involved the client must appoint a principal designer and a principal contractor in writing. Not notifiable is not the same as nothing to do.