A Designers’ CDM Proficiency (Competency) Test

Presentation to CONIAC by Clive Johnson

4th March 2008

What HSE thinks makes competence

Competent

H&

S Policy

Competent advice

training

Individual competence

Monitoring

& review

How will this be demonstrated?

Proficient (Competent) Person should have:

• Skill• Knowledge• Attitude• Training• Experience

With thanks to Kevin Fear

HSE has defined competence as (RR150)

1. Understand / recognise any potential hazards associated with the work under consideration = skill

2. Detect any technical defects or omissions in that work and recognise any implications for health & safety caused by those defects or omissions = Knowledge

3. Be able to specify a remedial action in mitigation of those implications = Training & experience

The test will aim to demonstrate designers can deliver this

Brief for the test

– The questions must be a stern test– The test shall be multiple choice & marked immediately– The questions shall be thought-provoking– The test distracter answers shall not be trivial– The test shall test whether the delegate has

• the necessary skill;• The necessary knowledge; and• The necessary training & experience;(See previous slide for definition of skill, knowledge & experience)

– The questions shall be drawn at random from a large bank – The bank of questions shall give a 1 in 5 chance of any question

being repeated (in case of a retake)

What should be tested?1. Basic knowledge of the

CDM regulations:– Application of the

regulations– What is notifiable work– Who is a designer– Timing of appointments– What is construction

work– Duty holders– Designers’ duties

2. Knowledge of H&S legislation:• Understand some legal terms: SFAIRP, suitable & sufficient, collective before individual protection, etc• Hierarchies in other regulations, eg, Work at Height Regulations• Understand which other regulations might apply• Understand hazard and risk• Understand what is a significant hazard• Know the requirements of the Workplace Regulations• Understand the importance of an ACoP & know what the CDM ACoP recommends

What should be tested?..Continued

Unergonomic, noise,

vibration

MSD

Noise & vibration

Silica dust

Drowning Disease

Collapse

competent designers should re

cognise

these as potentially hazardous operations?

The H&S issues with construction processes:How they can give rise to hazards, eg:

What should be tested?..Continued

• Discipline specific issues– Provide a scenario

– Ask CDM designer-related issues questions about it

– To test whether:

• The designer recognises a hazard exists in a real situation;

• He/she understands how this might influence design decisions;

• He/she understands how to design out the hazard or make it easier to manage.

Supporting guidance - self-learning package

Supporting guidance - self-learning package