20th November 2005, 12:27 PM
On CDM - my understanding (possibly not perfect) is that the HSE gave an 'enforcement opinion' some years ago which said that they would not seek to enforce CDM on archaeological projects if they were not taking place on an active construction site. As far as I am aware, this applies even if the site will later become an active construction site.
Where CDM does apply, the Main Contractor and Planning Supervisor will rarely (if ever) be part of the archaeological contractor, and they will usually take steps (in their own interest) to ensure that the archaeological contractor applies the same standard of H&S as the other contractors on site. To our shame, this is often not the case unless enforced from outside.
However, I believe that CDM is mainly about notification, co-ordination and management of H&S matters, particularly where there are more than one contractor working together on the same site. The actual H&S precautions themselves should be just as strict where CDM does not apply.
Saying that CDM does not apply to stand-alone archaeological work is therefore no excuse for applying a lower standard of H&S practice.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Where CDM does apply, the Main Contractor and Planning Supervisor will rarely (if ever) be part of the archaeological contractor, and they will usually take steps (in their own interest) to ensure that the archaeological contractor applies the same standard of H&S as the other contractors on site. To our shame, this is often not the case unless enforced from outside.
However, I believe that CDM is mainly about notification, co-ordination and management of H&S matters, particularly where there are more than one contractor working together on the same site. The actual H&S precautions themselves should be just as strict where CDM does not apply.
Saying that CDM does not apply to stand-alone archaeological work is therefore no excuse for applying a lower standard of H&S practice.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished