An introduction to safe design in building and construction
Opening Music
Safe design is about anticipating hazards and managing risks in building and construction early in the design process. Safe design aims to eliminate or reduce the risk of injury during construction, use, maintenance and demolition of structures. Safe design applies to all design and some examples include the design of equipment, materials, permanent or temporary structures and, layout of work sites.
A safe design approach begins in the conceptual and planning phases of a building project. Examples of designing for safety include: enabling safe access on work sites; ensuring windows are at a height above floor level to prevent falls from a building; providing access to lighting and air conditioning for ease of cleaning and maintenance, and reducing the need to work at height; providing protective structures such as railings, to prevent falls on construction sites, or for users of a finished building; and using materials which will be safe to remove from a building when no longer needed.
Planning, risk management and communication are key to safe design. Principles of safe design include that people involve decision makers in design to promote safety, demonstrate or acquire suitable knowledge of safe design, apply safe design at every stage in the building lifecycle from concept to disposal, identify hazards and assess risk to achieve safe design, and communicate and document safe design and risk control information between all persons involved in different phases of the building cycle.
Safe design is everybody’s business. Clients should ensure designers and builders are committed to safe design and incorporate safe design as a necessary cost of a project. Guidance for clients on safe design is provided in the Federal Safety Commissioner’s resource The Model Client – Promoting Safe Construction. Designers, including architects and engineers, can be involved through project design and liaison with clients, builders and users before and during construction.
Builders have a responsibility to consider design implications for builder’s occupational health and safety, and should communicate any design problems that may impact on health and safety, to the designer. Builders and designers are also responsible for safety in the designs they create and implement on worksites. It is critical to consider safe design in your next building or construction project.
For more information please visit fsc.gov.au. Health and safety laws vary depending on your state or territory. The material in this show is for general information only. You should seek professional or legal advice in relation to your particular circumstances or responsibilities.
[End of Transcript]