Principal Designer

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Principal Designer is a key figure in the pre-construction phase of any project involving multiple contractors.

Appointed by the client, the Principal Designer is responsible for planning, managing, monitoring, and coordinating health and safety during the critical early stages of a project.

According to HSE, ‘A principal designer must be appointed in writing by the client where a project involves, or is likely to involve, more than one contractor'.

The role of a Principal Designer

Design decisions made during the pre-construction phase play a significant role in ensuring that Health and Safety risks are effectively managed throughout the project.

designers on site looking over paperwork​

 

 

 

 

Responsibilities of a Principal Designer

Below are the key duties of a Principal Designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015):

 

Pre-Construction Health and Safety Management

  • Plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate Health and Safety during the pre-construction phase.
  • Take into account relevant information, such as an existing Health and Safety file, that may impact design work before and after the construction phase begins.

Collaboration and Communication

  • Ensure that all designers and contractors involved in the pre-construction phase communicate and cooperate effectively.
  • Coordinate their work to eliminate foreseeable risks and, where elimination is not possible, reduce or control those risks.

Advising the Client

  • Assist the client in compiling pre-construction information and ensure this information is shared with designers and contractors.
  • Provide guidance to the client on meeting their duties under CDM 2015.

Liaison with the Principal Contractor

  • Work closely with the Principal Contractor to inform them of any risks that need to be managed during the construction phase.

Risk Elimination and Mitigation

  • Collaborate with other designers to identify and address Health and Safety risks to anyone affected by the project.

 

By fulfilling these responsibilities, the Principal Designer ensures that Health and Safety is prioritised from the very beginning of the project, reducing risks for workers, contractors, and the public.