CDM/General/TBT-CDM-019
Worker Duties Under CDM 2015
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Toolbox Talk
Worker Duties Under CDM 2015
Under CDM 2015, every worker on a construction site has specific legal duties. These include cooperating with others on health and safety matters, reporting anything likely to endanger themselves or others, and not misusing anything provided for their safety. These duties apply to everyone from general labourers to specialist subcontractors. Understanding and fulfilling your worker duties is not optional — it is a legal requirement and failure to comply can result in personal prosecution.
Key Hazards
Workers unaware of their legal duties taking unnecessary risks on site
Failure to report unsafe conditions allowing hazards to persist unchecked
Misuse of safety equipment compromising the protection of the user and others
Lack of cooperation between workers creating gaps in the safety management system
Control Measures
- Cooperate with your employer, the principal contractor, and other workers on health and safety.
- Report any situation you believe to be dangerous or any shortcoming in safety arrangements.
- Do not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety, or welfare purposes.
- Follow site rules, method statements, and safe systems of work at all times without exception.
- Attend site inductions, toolbox talks, and task briefings and apply what you have learned.
- Use all PPE provided correctly and report any damage or defects to your supervisor.
- Check that you are competent, trained, and briefed before starting any task you are assigned.
- Raise concerns about your own or others' safety through the proper reporting channels.
- Participate in emergency drills and know the evacuation procedure for your work area.
Remember
- CDM 2015 places legal duties on every worker, not just employers and principal contractors.
- You must cooperate with others on safety and report anything you believe to be dangerous.
- Misusing safety equipment or PPE is a criminal offence that can result in personal prosecution.
- Following method statements and safe systems of work is a legal duty, not a suggestion.
- You have a right to a safe workplace but also a duty to contribute to making it safe.
- If you are not competent or briefed for a task, you must tell your supervisor before starting.
Applicable Legislation: Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 · Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
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