From Compliance to Calm: Are CDM Consultants the New Project Therapists?

If you’ve ever sat through a site meeting that felt more like a counselling session than a progress update, you’re definitely not alone. Designers are juggling last-minute revisions, contractors are managing on-site pressures, and clients are worrying about compliance.

And somewhere in the middle stands the CDM Advisor – part safety professional, part problem-solver, and often, a very patient listener.

The Construction World’s Unofficial Counsellor

At Safety CDM Ltd, we’ve seen the role of the CDM Advisor evolve in recent years. Yes, we’re here to help teams navigate the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 but increasingly, our work involves supporting people as much as supporting the process.

A CDM Advisor (also known as a CDM Consultant) is the person or organisation you turn to for clear, practical guidance. Their core aim is simple: help everyone understand their duties, keep projects compliant, and make sure work is carried out safely.

We still produce the essentials – from Pre-Construction Information through to full Health & Safety Files but surprisingly, much of our work now involves listening, guiding, and translating complex duties into something that actually works on site.

Here’s how our role has expanded:

Meet the ‘Therapists’ Behind the Hi-Vis

You’ll often find our consultants Mark Crisp, Daniel Crisp, and Michael Williams out on site, working closely with designers, clients, and contractors to support them with their CDM responsibilities.

From making sure RAMS reflect the actual work taking place to coordinating Construction Phase Plans, they keep the compliance process running smoothly with clear, steady support. In addition, they help teams interpret requirements in a practical way, ensuring safety measures are understood rather than just documented. As a result, everyone involved can move forward with confidence, knowing the project is aligned, compliant, and well-coordinated.

Behind the Scenes – Keeping Handover on Track

Much of the coordination happens behind the scenes, where Kim and Gillian take care of the essential work of keeping project information organised. They not only chase missing documents, gather updated drawings, certificates, and O&M manuals, but also make sense of the steady stream of uploads and last-minute email attachments that arrive from multiple teams.

By working closely with designers, contractors, and clients, they ensure every document is collected, checked, and in the right place, so that each project concludes with a clear, accurate, and fully compliant Health & Safety Handover File.

Why the ‘Therapist’ Label Fits

A great CDM Advisor brings more than technical knowledge; they bring empathy, patience, and the ability to communicate clearly. As a result, when teams feel supported and understand their responsibilities, projects run far more smoothly.

In practice, CDM Advisors guide the process through effective collaboration with project managers, designers, and contractors, helping ensure the project is both successful and safe.