SMSTS Legal Responsibilities Under CDM 2015

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The SMSTS course explains the full legal responsibilities of site managers under CDM Regulations 2015. If you manage construction sites in the UK, you are legally responsible for planning, coordinating and controlling health and safety. This guide explains your duties clearly and shows how the SMSTS course prepares you to meet CDM compliance requirements confidently and lawfully.

What Are CDM Regulations 2015

The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 place legal duties on clients, principal designers, principal contractors and contractors. Site managers typically operate under the principal contractor role or as delegated managers responsible for on site delivery.

Failure to comply can result in prosecution, fines and project shutdown.

SMSTS Legal Duties as a Site Manager

Under CDM 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, site managers must:

Plan, manage and monitor construction work safely
Ensure suitable risk assessments and method statements are in place
Provide appropriate welfare facilities
Coordinate subcontractors
Ensure workers have appropriate training and competence
Prevent unauthorised access to site

The CITB SMSTS course covers each of these responsibilities in depth, including practical application and case study analysis.

Duty to Appoint Competent Contractors

Managers must verify that subcontractors are competent. This includes checking:

Relevant qualifications such as SSSTS certification for supervisors
Valid CSCS cards
Evidence of previous experience
Health and safety training records

Competence can also be strengthened through NVQ qualifications. Explore our NVQ courses for progression routes.

Risk Assessment and Method Statement Oversight

Unlike supervisors, site managers are responsible for ensuring risk assessments are suitable and sufficient. You must review and approve them before works begin.

If your certificate is approaching expiry, you must complete the SMSTS refresher course before it expires to maintain legal credibility.

Temporary Works and Structural Safety

CDM places emphasis on managing temporary works correctly. Managers must appoint competent Temporary Works Coordinators and Supervisors.

Understanding BS 5975 principles is critical for structural safety.

Environmental Responsibilities Under CDM

Managers must also control environmental risks including waste, pollution and site impact. The SEATS course strengthens environmental compliance knowledge.