Worker Duties Under CDM

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 place specific legal duties on every worker on a construction site.
A worker is defined as anyone carrying out construction work, whether directly employed, agency, or self-employed.
Workers must cooperate with their employer, principal contractor, and other duty holders on health and safety matters.
Workers must report any situation they believe represents a serious and imminent danger to themselves or others.
Workers must use equipment, substances, and materials in accordance with the training and instructions they have received.
Workers must not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety, or welfare on the construction site.
Workers must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions.
Failure to comply with CDM worker duties is a criminal offence that can result in personal prosecution and fines.
Workers must attend inductions, toolbox talks, and safety briefings and follow the information provided.
These duties exist alongside employer duties — everyone on site shares responsibility for making construction safe.

Personal legal duty	CDM 2015 places criminal law duties directly on you as a worker — ignorance is no defence if you breach them.
Shared responsibility	Safety is not just the employer's job — every worker has a personal legal obligation to work safely and cooperate.
Protect yourself and others	Your actions affect colleagues around you — taking care of your own safety also protects the people working alongside you.

Do

Don't

Cooperate with your employer, principal contractor, and supervisor on all safety matters.
Report any dangerous situation, defective equipment, or unsafe condition without delay.
Use equipment and substances only in accordance with your training and the instructions given.
Follow site rules, method statements, and risk assessments for every task you carry out.
Attend all required inductions, toolbox talks, and safety briefings on the project.
Take reasonable care of your own health and safety throughout every working shift.
Consider how your actions affect others working near you and act responsibly.
Wear the PPE provided and use the welfare facilities as intended.
Ask for help or clarification if you do not understand how to carry out a task safely.
Report all injuries, near misses, and health concerns to your supervisor promptly.

DON'T refuse to cooperate with reasonable safety instructions from your supervisor.
DON'T fail to report dangerous situations — silence puts yourself and others at risk.
DON'T use equipment or substances in ways you have not been trained for.
DON'T ignore site rules or deviate from the agreed method statement for the task.
DON'T skip inductions or toolbox talks — they communicate essential safety information.
DON'T take unnecessary risks — your duty of care extends to yourself and those around you.
DON'T carry out work that puts colleagues at risk through careless or reckless behaviour.
DON'T misuse, damage, or remove safety equipment, PPE, or welfare provisions.
DON'T proceed with a task if you are unsure how to do it safely — ask first.
DON'T hide injuries, near misses, or symptoms — reporting them is a legal duty.

See also: CDM 2015 Awareness | Construction Phase Plan Awareness

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