A Lichfield based project management specialist has become one of the first companies in the UK to be awarded CDM-Registered Practice status.
Lorien Engineering Solutions, which works extensively in the pharmaceutical sector, has been accredited by the Association for Project Safety (aPS), having been one of a select group of companies to take part in a trial audit.
While CDM covers all industries, the pharmaceutical sector has some special conditions that need to be addressed.
The high churn of new products means that manufacturing systems are altered and sections added on a regular basis, as well as changes made to R+D facilities.
Some facility operators fail to realise that many of these installations fall within the category of 'Notifiable Projects'.
Working conditions within the industry also need to be addressed at the design stage - previously contaminated surfaces, the use of cleaning and sterilisation fluids and gases, working adjacent to GMP facilities and potential exposure to active ingredients, all need to be assessed for potential risk to the users and constructors.
A CDM coordinator with good industry knowledge can help to steer the project through these issues such that risk is not built-in, and corrective costs are avoided.
Lorien's operations director Bill Treddenick commented: "We are very proud to be one of the first companies in the UK to be awarded CDM-Registered Practice status.
"It is a fitting testament to the company's committed and innovative approach to health and safety over the years.
"The CDM-C practice within Lorien is growing and will very soon have six people who will able to take on the role through both qualifications and construction experience".
The new UK Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM2007) replaced the Planning Supervisor role with CDM Coordinator (CDM-C).
The role of the CDM-C is wider than that of the planning supervisor, and while there is no compulsory registration scheme (as there is in Belgium for example), the aPS has laid down criteria by which clients can assure themselves of the competence of the CDM-C.
Bill Treddenick continued: "The CDM-C role cannot be overestimated.
"The effect of CDM2007 has been to improve the awareness of CDM among clients who, given the competence criteria that is now established, need to have assurance that the companies they deal with on such matters have been independently assessed".
Lorien have been acting as planning supervisors and CDM-C since the mid-1990's when CDM was first introduced.
The aPS compiles registers of both CDM-C's (individuals) and CDM-C practices.
The registration is made against set criteria, and in the case of the practice registration, via an audit at the practice's offices.
