What Does The CDM 2015 Say About Site Security?

For anyone in the construction industry, the CDM 2015 regulations are essential reading. Not only do they establish core principles around safer, more sustainable construction practices for everyone involved, but they’re also essential in understanding how to keep your site secure and risks at bay.

What Is The CDM 2015 & Why Does It Matter?

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, usually shortened to CDM 2015, are a set of legal regulations that are in place to help maintain health and safety in the construction industry. 

They govern areas like risk management through a project’s lifespan, cooperation and coordination with all contractors and labourers on site, and effective communication across all aspects of the project. They’re legally enforceable and revolve predominantly around the responsibilities of a principal contractor and their duty of care to the site, surrounding areas, and overall project.

These regulations are important across all construction works (from small-scale domestic works to major developments and infrastructural projects), and allow for a more stable way to approach professional building. It also ensures that there’s a level playing field for your contractors – consistency means that contractors and labourers can translate skills more easily, and that your project can run consistently and effectively.

What CDM 2015 provides, above all, is a detailed, enforceable framework for construction site security, one that places clear obligations on the principal contractor throughout every phase of the build.

What Do The CDM 2015 Regulations Say About Security?

There are a few areas of the CDM 2015 regulations that address security directly. The primary regulations that relate to site security are Regulation 18 (which governs “Good order and site security”), Regulation 12 (which governs the “Construction phase plan and health and safety file”), and Regulation 13 (which governs “Health and safety in the construction phase”). 

There are additional mentions of safety measures and competency in Regulations 8 and 11, too. That’s only the surface-level analysis, however. Here’s a deeper dive into each of the Regulations, what they mean for the industry, and how they might look on your site.

Regulation 18  – Good Order & Site Security

Regulation 18 states that any construction site must have a clearly defined perimeter that’s identified by signage and, if possible, appropriate fencing. It must be easily identifiable to the general public and be structured in such a way that the public is kept away from harm as much as is reasonably practicable.

What that means is that security measures need to be unique to the site, its surroundings, risk profile and the nature of the works. A large, multi-home housing estate on the outskirts of a busy town, for example, will require a more nuanced approach when compared with self-contained builds or more isolated works.

For many construction sites, this is the major regulation under the CDM 2015 guidelines that resonates. It ensures that areas of the build (active construction, tool storage, machinery, plant, etc.) are shielded from the public, and that any possible liabilities are effectively mitigated.

Smaller sites (like minor-scale renovation projects, or those where there’s limited scope for access) may find that Heras fencing and autonomous technology (solar-powered mobile CCTV towers, for example) will suffice. These offer robust reassurance of site security and fully protect contractors and clients from any potential liability issues.

Larger projects (think expansions at major business parks, or new housing developments) will need to be more thoroughly protected. The primary method for that – and one that’s most effective in mitigating risk and liability – is a manned security presence at your project.

Whether that’s a more permanent, static presence, routine and ad-hoc mobile patrols, or gatehouse security for large-scale business parks that have ongoing works, there’s little substitute for effective manned protection in these scenarios.

Regulation 12 – Construction Phase Plan & Health And Safety Plan

Regulation 12 outlines the necessity for all health and safety arrangements (including appropriate security measures) to be included as part of the construction phase plan. It ensures that any measures related to keeping site personnel, visitors, and the general public safe are well documented and kept up to date.

This is often where the first mention of security solutions will be found. As part of any planning for a construction project, considering security in the early stages is imperative. Projects often evolve and grow over time, and any plans you put into place need to have that same level of adaptability.

Take a new build housing estate as a great example. As new properties, businesses and local amenities are added to the site, the construction phase plans (and any associated security measures) have to be fluid enough to adapt to those new additions as and when they’re included as part of the development.

The security you choose, then, has to be equally adaptive. What we’re seeing more of on modern construction projects is the inclusion of mobile CCTV towers. Not only do these offer total, round-the-clock oversight of the key areas of the build (and any perimeter fences), they’re now fully integrated with AI-enhanced threat detection – one of the biggest developments the sector has seen in recent years, and a major advantage for construction projects.

With a system of this nature, the advantages don’t just stop at identifying threats at the first hurdle. AI-augmented CCTV can also pick up on health and safety breaches (like contractors not wearing a hard hat or hi-vis in active construction zones) and flag these in real time or as part of routine reporting.

Ultimately, this is the reason why we’re seeing mobile CCTV becoming an integral part of construction site security measures. They’re multi-purpose and can act as a cost-saving measure (particularly in the sense of health and safety coverage), making them ideal for both large- and small-scale projects.

Regulation 13 – Health & Safety At The Construction Phase

Regulation 13 ties closely with Regulation 11, in that it’s concerned with a specific individual’s (in this instance, the principal contractor) role in ensuring that health and safety protocols are adhered to and that “construction work is carried out without risks” where reasonably practicable.

The primary subclause of Regulation 13 that relates to security is that a principal contractor must ensure that the necessary steps are taken to prevent access by unauthorised persons to the construction site. This, in no uncertain terms, relates to the security of your project and how you mitigate the risks of construction site trespassing, breaking and entering, and vandalism.

The first thought for many – and an integral part of construction site security for CDM 2015 compliance – is fencing. Most construction projects will utilise Heras fencing with a combination of access control, but for more complex sites with multiple access points (to facilitate material delivery, for example), that might not be enough.

Here, mobile security patrols can function as an effective way to address gates and entrances that are spread across a large area (a new-build housing estate, for instance, or ongoing construction of a business park). They should be equipped with a vehicle, appropriate PPE for all areas of the site (such as a hard hat and steel-toe-capped boots) and a device to stay in contact at all times.

These are best used in tandem with both perimeter fencing (itself a stipulation of the CDM 2015 regulations) and with geolocation tags – usually called RFID technology – to ensure that all areas of your premises are being covered as part of those patrols. Not only does this allow for comprehensive site coverage, but it’s that visible deterrent that can effectively mitigate the risks we so often see at unprotected construction sites.

As part of Regulation 13, there are a few additional important points to consider:

• Under (3)(c), the principal contractor must coordinate implementation by the contractors of applicable legal requirements for health and safety
  • This may involve any security providers, alongside legal compliance that’s coordinated by external consultants (HSE, CDM 2015, PUWER, all additional risk assessments, etc.).
• Under (5), the principal contractor must liaise with the principal designer for the duration of the principal designer’s appointment and share relevant information
  • This can allow for security provisions (such as any fencing or technology) to remain consistent across the length of the project.

Ultimately, the construction phase of the project is where the greatest risks to health and safety are, and where there needs to be a greater focus on overall project security.

Regulation 8 – General Duties

Regulation 8 discusses more general duties for a contractor or designer (including the principal contractor and designer), including their level of responsibility and competency, the skills they have to undertake those duties, and relevant experience in their appointed role. It’s a more generalised regulation, but it plays an important role in understanding obligations for site security under the CDM 2015.

The main stipulation of Regulation 8 is that anyone working on a project (from both a designing and a contracting perspective) should have “the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to fulfil the role they are appointed to undertake, in a manner that secures the health and safety of any person affected by the project”.

It’s here where the link to security becomes clear. For the principal contractor, they must be sufficiently knowledgeable about the most exposed areas of their site from a security perspective, and how that can impact health and safety. That could be something more obvious (active plant machinery, for instance) or more “hidden” dangers (like exposed metal or foundational works with setting concrete).

Part of that link may also relate to how the principal contractor implements security solutions. Fencing off active building sites, implementing proper access controls and gates to ensure access, and installing anti-vehicle measures (i.e., barriers) are all options for how to do this in a cost-effective but legally compliant manner.

Regulation 11 – Health & Safety At The Pre-Construction Phase

Regulation 11 relates to the principal designer’s responsibilities for health and safety during the pre-construction phase. This ensures that, as much as possible, “the project is carried out without risks to health and safety” – imperative in the modern construction industry, and in maintaining compliance with CDM 2015.

This is the responsibility of the principal designer, and, as per Clause 3 of the regulation, they’re tasked with “identifying and eliminating” the “foreseeable risks to health and safety”. While the legislation does not give specifics on what this refers to, it’s fair to say that anything that could jeopardise the security and safety of the site would fall under the scope here.

That’s particularly important for large-scale infrastructure or public interest projects (like out-of-town energy facilities, or new amenities in a city centre). These are likely to be in areas with substantial foot traffic, and risk mitigation must take top priority, especially when it comes to the security of your project.

While difficult to quantify the level of security you’d need to be compliant with this Regulation of the CDM 2015, it’s fair to say that large-scale projects need consistent coverage throughout their lifespan. That may be manned security guarding positioned in a gatehouse, routine patrols and geolocational monitoring, or a suite of temporary coverage (like CCTV towers or the cutting-edge VPOD).

How Do I Find The Right Provider For My CDM Security Needs?

It’s important to consider the full lifespan of your project, how that might impact the security measures you need in place (along with any possible health and safety hazards), and how that can best fit around your budget. Security is a non-negotiable under the CDM 2015 regulations, and understanding how to find what suits you is essential.

You should start by answering a few questions:

• How many phases will your development have, and how will that change the nature and footprint of the site?
• How many entrances and thoroughfares does your site have?
• What is your budget?
• How long do you foresee the construction lasting?
• Are there any notable risks (such as expensive plant or equipment left unattended)?

These give you a baseline for the level of coverage you’ll need – the next step is to find a provider who meets all the requirements. You should look for a company that has experience in delivering security for the construction industry, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments that make securing your site security straightforward to manage.

With a proven track record of providing construction site security in everything from remote developments to city-centre renovations across Manchester, Birmingham and London, ProFM Group can act as that single point of accountability you’re looking for when it comes to security across the full lifespan of your development.

We’re also at the forefront of technological developments. Our mobile CCTV towers are integrated with the latest AI enhancements to ensure that we’re capturing every risk or H&S breach – no matter how small it might seem to the contractor – and protecting you at every turn. Plus, with our precise geolocation systems embedded into all of our mobile patrols, your project’s security requirements are documented, monitored, and fully accountable – from first mobilisation to final handover.

If you’d like to learn more about what you’ll need to do to ensure comprehensive site security, explore our cutting-edge insights into the construction sector. Alternatively, check out our full suite of construction security services to discover how we do it, and how we could be the ideal partner for you.