Why this checklist matters
Principal Designers have a critical role in influencing health and safety outcomes by addressing risk at the design stage. Under CDM 2015, failure to manage design risk effectively can result in unsafe construction practices, enforcement action and serious incidents.
This checklist matters because it helps Principal Designers:
- Demonstrate compliance with CDM 2015 duties
- Embed health and safety into design decisions from the outset
- Reduce risk during construction, maintenance and future use of the structure
- Ensure clear coordination and communication across the design team
- Maintain a robust audit trail of design risk management decisions
- Support safer construction planning and delivery
Used correctly, the checklist helps ensure health and safety is designed in — not managed as an afterthought — supporting safer projects, stronger governance and better long-term outcomes.