The duty holders can include:

• The organisation initiating the construction works (the Client).
• The organisation appointed by the Client to take control of the pre-construction phase of any project involving more than one contractor (the Principal Designer).

The advice and assistance can include:

• Contract strategy on the overall CDM framework for the project.
• Notification of the project to the Health and Safety Executive (where required).
• Appointment of duty holder organisations e.g. development of assessment criteria, review of submissions.  
• Development of documentation e.g. the Pre-construction Information, Health and Safety File.
• Review of documentation e.g. the Construction Phase Plan, Risk Assessments / Method Statements.
• Undertaking design risk management activities, including managing Hazard Identification / Risk Management workshops, developing Hazard Logs / Risk Assessments.
• Undertaking monitoring / auditing of the duty holders management arrangements.