The quickest way to learn about Construction Design Management Regulations (CDM) isn’t about reading the legislation, it’s through observation.

First of all, you want to think of your telecoms network project as a pyramid. The wider the base of that pyramid, the more skills you need. You need people with strong safety skills to help you build that pyramid very high with integrity and with competency.

The next one is you need to think about project risks. So when you’re building that pyramid, you actually want to think about kryptonite (project risks) within that pyramid or around the surrounding area. Again, you need people early on in that design process and in that build process to consider the kryptonite.

As the first Superhero you could be the client in an organisation such as BT, VMO2 or even City Fibre. You’ve got the power to set the tone, set the vision. You have the money, you have the resources.

Next you should be thinking of getting the designers in early on so you can actually look for that kryptonite. These superheroes (Designers) have the power to see that kryptonite early on, that unusual kryptonite that might crop up in the build process.

If you’ve got more than two contractors on site you need someone called the Principal Designer. they’ll look at all types of design. It might be the structural element, it might be the electrical element, they’re looking at conflicts. They’re also looking at unusual design that, again, might have a lot of risk in it, a lot of kryptonite.

And then you’ve got the Principal Contractor. They have the superpower to coordinate lots of other contractors and they can look at that risk in the build. But they don’t want that kryptonite. So they want the designers to try and design it out early so they can completely avoid it.

Then you’ve got the Contractor, they’re super power is that they have their own labour and they’re very good at developing that labour so they can do those unique skills that you need.

And then finally, the Workers and guess what? Workers are solid types of individuals, but what they really like is great welfare because they feel they’re being loved and looked after. Remember, everyone likes wellbeing now, so you can’t just rely on the flush app or make them go to McDonald’s. You’ve got to consider where they’re actually going to go to the toilet and wherever they need that welfare way before.

This is where it all comes together. So you’ve got the pyramid with a wide base and then you’ve got the hierarchy. Remember, the Egyptians worshiped a God called Horus who was a Falcon that looked down from the top of the pyramid with focus and attention to check that everyone’s doing their job and all risks were considered early on and avoided if possible.

I hope that’s a good representation of the CDM regulations for you.

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