The new CDM regulations came into force on 6 April 2015 changing the face of construction health and safety risk management on construction projects, large and small. This handbook has been specifically written to provide straightforward, practical and easy-to-read guidance to anyone undertaking the new principal designer role. It is primarily aimed towards the needs of the sole practitioner or small/medium sized practices who offer principal designer services, either as a stand-alone service or in addition to other design services. The Handbook is a quick, first point of reference for both new principal designers and experienced design risk practitioners and will help the industry achieve a proportionate response to health and safety design risk management in the pre-construction phase by helping those who have sufficient health and safety skill, knowledge and experience carry out the principal designer role, where they feel confident to do so.