What UK Sites Must Track Under CDM 2015 for Visitor Management
Every UK construction site sees a steady flow of people who aren’t part of the core workforce – clients, designers, delivery drivers, inspectors and members of the public on guided visits. Managing these visitors properly is a core part of CDM 2015 visitor management, yet it’s often handled with a paper sign-in sheet and little else.
The result is a gap between what the site thinks it knows about who’s on-site and what it can actually demonstrate if asked. Getting visitor tracking right isn’t about ticking a box – it’s about knowing who is on-site, what they’ve been told and whether they’re prepared for the risks in the areas they’re entering.
Here’s what CDM 2015 visitor management typically involves, broken down by the questions site teams ask most.
What visitor information should a UK construction site track under CDM 2015?
Under CDM 2015, sites typically track who is on-site, when they arrived and left, and whether they have received a site induction covering the relevant RAMS. This creates a basic but essential picture: who’s present, for how long and whether they’ve been briefed on the risks relevant to their visit.
Without this information, it’s difficult to account for everyone in an emergency or to demonstrate that visitors were properly informed before entering hazardous areas.
Does CDM 2015 require a formal sign-in and sign-out process for site visitors?
CDM 2015 expects sites to maintain a clear record of who has entered and left the site, which is usually managed through a sign-in and sign-out process as part of visitor management. The format can vary – a manual register, a digital kiosk, or an app-based check-in – but the underlying requirement is the same: an accurate, up-to-date log of site presence.
How does RAMS awareness fit into visitor tracking under CDM 2015?
Visitor tracking under CDM 2015 often includes confirming that each person has been made aware of the RAMS relevant to the areas they will access. This is more than handing over a document. It means the visitor has been walked through, or has acknowledged, the specific risks and control measures that apply to where they’re going.
Recording this confirmation alongside the visitor’s sign-in details helps the site show that awareness, not just attendance, was captured.
Should sites record visitor competency or authorisation under CDM 2015?
Sites commonly track whether a visitor has the necessary authorisation or competency confirmation before allowing access to higher-risk areas, in line with CDM 2015 principles. This might apply to a specialist inspecting plant, a designer reviewing structural work, or anyone else whose access depends on a particular qualification or sign-off.
Tracking this alongside general visitor records means access to restricted or higher-risk zones can be tied to the right approvals, rather than relying on someone remembering to check.
What role does the principal contractor play in visitor tracking under CDM 2015?
The principal contractor is generally responsible for overseeing visitor management arrangements, including how visitor records are kept and reviewed on site. This includes setting the process for sign-in, induction, and RAMS briefing, and making sure it’s applied consistently across everyone who steps onto the project – not just the core workforce.
How are emergency and evacuation details tracked for visitors under CDM 2015?
Sites often track whether visitors have been briefed on emergency and evacuation procedures as part of the visitor induction process under CDM 2015. This is closely tied to knowing who is on-site at any given time – if an evacuation is needed, an accurate, current record of visitors is what allows a site to account for everyone quickly.
Does CDM 2015 require tracking of PPE compliance for visitors?
Visitor management under CDM 2015 typically includes confirming that appropriate PPE has been provided or worn before access is granted. This is usually captured at the point of sign-in or induction, alongside RAMS awareness and any access authorisations, so PPE compliance isn’t treated as a separate, easily missed step.
How long should visitor records be kept under CDM 2015?
CDM 2015 does not set a single fixed retention period for visitor records, so sites generally follow their own record-keeping policy alongside HSE guidance on maintaining accurate site documentation. Many sites choose a retention period that aligns with their broader health and safety record-keeping practices, so visitor data is available if it’s ever needed for review.
Bringing visitor tracking together
Taken individually, each of these elements (sign-in and sign-out, RAMS awareness, authorisation checks, PPE confirmation, and emergency briefings) is manageable. The challenge is keeping them consistent across every visitor, every day, without relying on a paper log that’s easy to lose track of.
SiteConnect’s visitor management module brings these checks into a single digital process, so operations teams and principal contractors can see, at a glance, who’s on-site, what they’ve been told, and whether they’re cleared to be there.
