SAFETY IN DESIGN

Designers play a critical role in creating the places where people live, work and interact. Every design decision — from early concept through to detailed documentation — can influence the health and safety of those who construct, use, maintain or work around a structure.

Safety in Design is a systematic, team-based methodology used to identify hazards early in the design phases. This process enables the project team to assess potential risks and develop creative, practical and innovative solutions that eliminate or minimise those risks across the lifecycle of the project.

Up to two-thirds of fatalities during construction can be attributed to shortcomings in design or organisational problems.*

WHAT IS

SAFE DESIGN?

Read our eBook for information to assist designers meet their WHS safe design obligations.

Safety in Design integrates hazard identification, risk assessment and control measures early in the design process to eliminate or minimise risks across the lifecycle of a structure. By addressing potential WHS hazards upfront, designers can make informed decisions that reduce risk before it becomes embedded in the final design.

Designers must consider the health and safety of anyone interacting with the structure throughout its lifecycle. This involves systematically identifying potential hazards at each stage of the structure’s lifecycle, including:

Construction of the structure (including civil works and demolition of existing structures)
Use of the structure for its intended purpose
Maintenance, cleaning and repair across its operational life
Demolition or adaptive reuse at the end of the structure’s life

Designers can improve the safety of their designs by understanding the intended use of the structure and associated work processes; undertaking research, testing and analysis; selecting safer materials; and understanding construction, maintenance and demolition methods. Consulting with various stakeholders and applying solutions from recognised standards further strengthens the design. All relevant safety information should be clearly communicated to those involved in later lifecycle stages.

SAFE DESIGN AUSTRALIA

Safe Design Australia can provide you with more detailed information and training on how to implement Safety in Design

in your practice, as part of our Safe Design procedure and templates package.

We also offer resources for designers and a range of Safety in Design services.

VIEW PROJECTS

THE BENEFITS OF

SAFE DESIGN

* European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. (1991). From Drawing Board to Building Site. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

Early consideration of potential hazards during the design process can:

prevent injury or illness
ensure safer workplaces for workers and users of structures
improve the functionality and productivity of the designed workplace through innovation and creativity
reduce costs through improvement of work processes
reduce accidents and potential litigation
eliminate the cost of retrofitting for safety (it’s cheaper to make changes to drawings on paper, than retrofit or renovate after the building is constructed).