What information must I provide to designers and contractors?

The process of identifying and providing information on safety risks is a common requirement for any group of businesses working together.

Because the safety risks in construction work are high, the provision of information and subsequent risk reduction in planning and design is of paramont importance.

Factors which designers need to be aware of include, the location of underground services, potential contamination and the presence of asbestos.

The approved code of practice suggests other topics on which information is required and it is made clear that clients are expected to take an active role in obtaining and handing over this information either direct to designers and contractors in small projects or to the CDM co-ordinator for notifiable projects.

In larger projects however clients can expect the co-ordinator to make detailed recommendations for information retrieval and to collect and distribute that information as the client obtains it.