Introduction For decades, workplace safety in Malaysia focused on one thing: The Site. We looked at scaffolding, we checked harnesses, and we scolded workers for not wearing helmets. But what if the accident wasn’t the worker’s fault? What if the accident was written into the blueprints before the building was even built?

Enter the Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024, or simply CDM 2024.

If you are an SME owner, you might be thinking, “I run a factory/warehouse/office, not a construction firm. This doesn’t apply to me.”

Here is the wake-up call: If you ever hire someone to renovate your office, fix your roof, or install solar panels, CDM 2024 applies to you. And more importantly, it makes you legally responsible for safety in a way you have never been before.

Here is everything you need to know about the regulation that is changing the face of Malaysian safety.

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The Core Philosophy: Prevention through Design (PtD)

The old way of thinking was: “The contractor will figure out how to build it safely.” The CDM way of thinking is: “We must design it so it CAN be built and maintained safely.”

CDM shifts the focus from controlling the risk (e.g., wearing a harness) to eliminating the hazard (e.g., designing a roof with permanent guardrails so a harness isn’t needed).

The “New” Key Players (Duty Holders)

CDM 2024 introduces specific roles. Understanding which one you are is critical to avoiding jail time and fines.

1. The Client (That’s You!)

This is the biggest change. In the past, you could hire a contractor and wash your hands of the safety details. Not anymore.

• Who is it? The person or business for whom the project is carried out.
• Your Duty: You must provide Pre-Construction Information (PCI). You must ensure the people you hire (designers and contractors) are competent. You must ensure enough time and resources are allocated for safety.
• The Trap: If you push for a rush job that compromises safety, you are now liable.

2. The Principal Designer (PD)

• Who is it? Usually the lead architect or engineer in the early phase.
• Duty: To plan, manage, and monitor health and safety during the design phase. They coordinate all other designers to eliminate risks on paper.

3. The Principal Contractor (PC)

• Who is it? The main contractor in charge of the construction phase.
• Duty: To plan, manage, and monitor safety during the build. They produce the Construction Phase Plan (CPP).

The 3 Critical Documents You Must Know

CDM isn’t just about roles; it’s about information flow.

1. Pre-Construction Information (PCI)

• Produced by: The Client (You).
• What is it? Information about the site before work starts.
• Example: Telling the solar installer, “This roof is 20 years old and has fragile skylights,” or “There are buried high-voltage cables here.”

2. Construction Phase Plan (CPP)

• Produced by: The Principal Contractor.
• What is it? The strategic plan for managing safety on site. It’s not just a generic “safety policy”; it’s specific to this job.

3. The Health and Safety File

• Produced by: The Principal Designer.
• What is it? The “User Manual” for the building. It contains drawings, material details, and instructions for future maintenance.
• Why it matters: When you need to repair a leak 5 years from now, this file tells the maintenance team where it is safe to walk.

Why This Matters for SMEs (The “Solar Panel” Example)

Let’s look at our recurring example: Installing Solar Panels.

• Pre-CDM: You hire an installer. They fall through a skylight. DOSH investigates. You say, “It was their job to be safe.”
• Post-CDM: DOSH asks you (the Client): “Did you give the installer Pre-Construction Information about the skylight? Did you check if the solar design allowed for safe maintenance walkways?”
  • If the answer is No, you are liable.

How to Comply: Your Action Plan

1. Stop “Blind Hiring”: Don’t just hire the cheapest contractor. Ask for their safety credentials.
2. Appoint Competent People: Ensure your architects and contractors understand CDM 2024.
3. Prepare Your PCI: Before any renovation, gather all data about your building (asbestos, wiring, structural issues) and pass it to the contractor.
4. Demand the File: Never finish a project without receiving the Health and Safety File. It is your insurance policy for future work.

Conclusion: Safety Starts Before the Work Begins

CDM 2024 isn’t just red tape. It is a logical step toward a safer Malaysia. It forces us to stop treating safety as an afterthought and start treating it as a design parameter.

As an SME owner, you are the captain of the ship. You don’t need to know how to tie a scaffold knot, but you do need to know how to chart a safe course.

Need help navigating CDM 2024? At Perintosh, we help SME owners understand their new duties as “Clients” under these regulations. Don’t risk a RM500,000 mistake.👉 Contact us at www.perintosh.com for a CDM Consultation.