Paul Brothwood on CDM Site Inspections and Client-Side Safety

I’m Paul Brothwood, an Operations Manager in electricity distribution. In my role as the client’s representative for CDM purposes, I carried out a safety inspection during construction work at Timberdine Primary Substation in Worcester. The visit prompted wider reflections on how client-side involvement supports safe construction.

Paul Brothwood acting as the client’s representative during a construction safety inspection inside a substation.

CDM gives responsibilities to the client, principal designer, principal contractor and contractors. A client representative helps the client stay informed, raise observations through the right channels and follow up on issues. The representative supports the client’s oversight; each dutyholder remains responsible for their own role. Preparation makes a site visit more useful. Before arriving, the representative needs to understand the purpose of the visit, the stage of the work, the site rules and the correct people to contact. Site access, induction and personal protective equipment also need to be arranged. Knowing the boundaries of the role matters too. The representative should work within an agreed remit, supporting client oversight and communicating with the people managing the work. On site, an inspection gives the client a chance to understand how arrangements are working in practice. Are responsibilities clear? Have changes been communicated? Do people know how to raise a concern? Are the agreed controls visible in the work being carried out? These questions help start a conversation. These questions complement the judgement of people who plan and manage the work. Listening is as important as observing. Workers and supervisors often have a direct view of how tasks interact and where conditions have changed. A respectful conversation often reveals an issue that a document or brief walk-through would miss. It also gives the client a clearer picture of what is working well and where information needs to be passed on. An inspection has value when observations lead to follow-up. A concern needs to reach the person responsible for addressing it, with a clear record of what was raised and what happens next. Where an issue needs immediate attention, it should be raised through the site’s established arrangements. Returning to check progress helps keep actions visible and closes the loop with the people involved. Client-side oversight also needs clear boundaries. The principal contractor manages and coordinates the construction phase. Contractors manage the work under their control. The client representative supports the client’s involvement and keeps communication flowing within the agreed responsibilities of each dutyholder. Clear boundaries help people act through the right channels and reduce confusion on site. For me, the value of a safety inspection lies in being present, asking sensible questions and making sure concerns receive attention. It is one part of wider project arrangements, alongside planning, cooperation and communication. Regular, purposeful site engagement helps the client understand how work is progressing and supports timely decisions when conditions change. A site visit is a practical way to connect the client’s oversight with the realities of construction. Its value comes from what people learn, communicate and follow up afterwards. Further reading Health and Safety Executive, Summary of duties under CDM 2015 About the author Paul Brothwood is an Operations Manager in electricity distribution and a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). He writes about leadership, operational improvement, sustainability, health and safety and project delivery. Copyright © 2026 Paul Brothwood. All rights reserved. Reproduction, republication or adaptation requires written permission.