Are you the Client?

The client has one of the biggest influences over the way a project is run.They have substantial influence and contractual control and their decisions and approach determine: 

• the time, money and other resources available for projects;
• who makes up the project team, their competence, when they are appointed and who does what;
• whether the team is encouraged to co-operate and work together effectively;
• whether the team has the information that it needs about the site and any existing structures;
• the arrangements for managing and co-ordinating the work of the team.

Because of this, they are made accountable for the impact their approach has on the health and safety of those working on or affected by the project. In the case of notifiable projects, clients must appoint a competent CDM Co-ordinator. Those clients without construction expertise should rely on the CDM Co-ordinator's advice on how best to meet their duties, but the CDM co-ordinator will need the client's support and input to be able to carry out their work effectively. The client remains responsible for ensuring that client duties are met. Clients can also, intentionally or unwittingly, take on additional responsibilities. If they specify materials or methods of working they may well become designers in relation to those specific matters. They will also legally be contractors if they directly manage or carry out construction work.