CDM 2024 guide
The Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024, known as the CDM Regulations 2024, came into force in Malaysia on 1 June 2024. This guide explains in plain English who the Regulations apply to, what each duty holder must do, and how CDMS Consultancy helps projects comply.
What the CDM Regulations 2024 require
CDM 2024 makes safety and health a legal duty from the very first stage of a construction project, not only once work starts on site. Risks must be considered during design, managed during construction, and recorded for the people who will maintain or alter the building later. The Regulations apply to construction work in Malaysia, including complex projects such as data centres, rail and MRT, high-rise buildings, mixed developments, infrastructure and renewable energy facilities.
The duty holders under CDM 2024
- Client: makes suitable project arrangements, provides pre-construction information and appoints competent duty holders.
- Principal Construction Work Designer (PCWD): plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety during the pre-construction phase, so that design risks are eliminated or reduced, and information on remaining risks is passed on.
- Construction Work Designer (CWD): applies the General Principles of Prevention (GPP) in their own design to eliminate or reduce risks, and passes on information about remaining risks.
- Principal Construction Work Contractor (PCWC): plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety during the construction phase, including coordination between their own sub-contractors, designers and specialists, and reviews residual risks before work starts.
- Construction Work Contractor (CWC): applies the General Principles of Prevention (GPP) when planning, managing and carrying out their own work, in line with the construction phase arrangements.
Key information that flows through a CDM project
- Pre-construction information: what the client knows about the site, existing structures and known hazards, shared with designers and contractors.
- Design risk information: how design risks were eliminated or reduced, and the residual risks passed on to the contractor.
- Construction phase arrangements: how the construction work will be planned, managed and monitored safely.
- Safety and Health File: handed to the client at completion, to support safe maintenance, cleaning and future works.
DOSH notification and penalties
Projects above the notification threshold, such as those lasting more than 30 working days or exceeding 500 person-days, must be notified to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Key breaches of the Regulations carry statutory maximum penalties of up to RM500,000, up to one year’s imprisonment, or both. Confirming early whether your project is notifiable, and who holds each duty, avoids costly delays later.
How CDMS Consultancy helps
Our team is certified by DOSH as CDM Professionals. We work alongside clients, designers and contractors across West and East Malaysia to set up CDM arrangements, review design risks, support pre-construction and construction phase reviews, and prepare a complete Safety and Health File at handover.
- CDM Professional services: certified support for your project from concept design to close-out.
- PCWD, CWD and PCWC support: practical help for designers and contractors to meet their duties.
- CDM insights: articles on client duties, duty holders and common compliance gaps.
This guide is general information only. Always refer to the gazetted Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024 for the exact legal requirements.