CDM Regulations 2015: A Guide for Small Contractors and Sole Traders

By Assessment First · Published 14 February 2026

What are the CDM Regulations?

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 — CDM 2015 — are the main UK regulations for managing the health, safety, and welfare of construction projects. They apply to virtually all construction work in Great Britain, from large commercial builds to minor domestic renovation projects.

Who is a contractor under CDM?

A contractor is any organisation or individual who directly employs construction workers or manages construction work. This includes sole traders. If you are self-employed and carry out construction work, you are a contractor under CDM.

Key duties for contractors

• Plan and manage work — carry it out without risks to health and safety, so far as reasonably practicable
• Cooperate and communicate — with other contractors, the principal contractor, and the principal designer
• Provide information and training — before work begins
• Construction Phase Plan — for projects with more than one contractor, a plan must be in place before work starts

The F10 notification

If a project involves more than 500 person-days, or more than 30 working days with more than 20 simultaneous workers, the project must be notified to the HSE using the online F10 form.

RAMS under CDM

Principal contractors routinely require RAMS from all subcontractors before allowing them on site. Your RAMS must demonstrate that you have identified significant hazards, assessed the risk, and put in place suitable controls. Assessment First makes it straightforward to create a CDM-compliant RAMS pack.