2 Safe by Design. Introduction

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“Designers are in a unique position to reduce the risks that arise during construction work, and have a key role to play. Designs develop from initial concepts through to a detailed specification, often involving different teams and people at various stages.

At each stage, designers from all disciplines can make a significant contribution by identifying and eliminating hazards, and reducing likely risks from hazards where elimination is not possible.”

– UK health and safety guidance

Design evolves as part of an iterative process and intuitively designers should consider the life cycle of a project: from concept/feasibility to detailed design, buildability and then go onto consider the future use, maintenance and refurbishment/demolition of their project. This thought process should not stifle innovative

design in fact it is an opportunity for designers to stretch the boundaries of the industry to create practical pragmatic design solution. Legislation in many jurisdictions places a legal responsibility upon designers to consider as part of the design process the life cycle of a project and to eliminate via good design potential project specific hazards and risks. This booklet is aimed at introducing or

reminding designers to the concept of safe by design by addressing some of the most commonly asked questions.

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Q1:

• Safe by Design is about incorporating safe design

principles in the design, construction and maintenance of workplaces.

• A number of countries that we work in include Safe by

Design requirements in their health and safety legislation. This is to ensure that hazards and risks that may exist in the design of a workplace are eliminated or controlled at the design stage as far as reasonably practicable.

• Regardless of the legal environment, we aim to produce

designs that are safe and without risks as far as reasonably practicable.

• Safe by Design is the integration of hazard identification

and risk assessment methods early in the design process to eliminate or minimise the risks of injury throughout the life of the building or structure being designed, including construction, use, maintenance and demolition. It encompasses all design including facilities, hardware, systems, equipment, products, tooling, materials, energy, controls, layout and configuration.

• A safe design approach begins in the conceptual and

planning phases with an emphasis on making choices about design, materials used and methods of manufacture or construction to enhance the safety of the finished product. The designer needs to consider how safety can best be achieved in each of the lifecycle phases.

What is Safe by

Design?

Q2:

The benefits of Safe by Design extend beyond the design phase of a project and apply throughout construction, maintenance and ongoing use.

Using this approach results in many benefits including:

• Prevention of injury and disease to those constructing,

using or maintaining the structure

• Improved usability of products, systems and facilities • Improved productivity

• Reduced costs

• Better prediction and management of production and

operational costs over the lifecycle of a product and compliance with legislation

What are the benefits

of Safe by Design?

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Q4:

Our approach is for designers to think about health and safety in terms of buildability, maintainability and usability at all stages of the design process, so it becomes a natural part of the design.

What is our approach

to Safe by Design?

Q5:

In some countries we work in, the legislation specifies that Safe by Design should be applied to structures used as workplaces, i.e.:

• Buildings or structures used as occasional workplaces • Parts of the building or structure including fixtures integral to

its use as a workplace

• Temporary structures

• Design on construction and demolition phases of a building

or structures lifecycles

However we seek to apply the principles of Safe by Design and eliminating hazards at source where possible in all designs and projects carried out within the Group.

What types of

buildings or structures

are covered by

Safe by Design

requirements?

The definition of a workplace, where this is used in legislation, is very broad and includes buildings and structures used as permanent, occasional and temporary workplaces.

What qualifies as a

workplace?

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Q6:

Implementing Safe by Design is much more cost effective than making changes to an existing building or structure which is found to be unsafe as a workplace.

The most effective risk control measure – eliminating the hazard – is often cheaper and more practical to achieve at the design or planning stage rather than making changes later when the hazards become real risks to clients, users, employees and businesses.

The direct costs associated with unsafe design can be significant such as retrofitting, workers compensation and insurance levies, environmental clean ups and negligence claims.

How will Safe by

Design impact on the

overall project cost?

Q7:

Designers can include someone who undertakes the design on behalf of a client, including:

• Architects • Quantity surveyors • Building designers • Drafts persons

• The client (e.g. if they specify a certain design)

A designer can also include someone who designs any part

of the building/structure or services integral to its use as a workplace, including:

• Engineers • Interior designers

• Industrial designers and contractors

Anyone who makes changes to the design of the building/

structure during the construction phase also has a Safe by Design duty, this includes the client.

Who does Safe by

Design apply to?

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Q9:

No, you should design to avoid hazards where possible, but there will be many situations where it is not possible to design out all hazards. Where hazards cannot be avoided, you should

reduce the risks associated with the hazard. Arrangements are

required to avoid foreseeable risk in preparing a design by:

• Eliminating hazards giving rise to the risk; and • Reducing risk from any remaining hazards.

The amount of effort put in to avoiding hazards and reducing risks should be proportionate to the degree of risk posed by that particular hazard.

Do I have to eliminate

all risks in my design?

The designer needs to clearly understand:

• The range of work activities associated with the intended

use of the building/structure as a workplace

• Any maintenance, repair, service and cleaning activities

for the building/structure when it is in use and during demolition in some countries

The designer must also identify and control foreseeable hazards and risks associated with the above activities, inform the client of any high risks in the clients design requirements and recommend design alternatives that will eliminate or reduce risks arising from the original design.

What are the

designer’s

responsibilities when

preparing a design?

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Q10:

RAG lists (as they are commonly referred to) are practical aides

for designers on what to eliminate/avoid and what to encourage.

• Red lists include hazardous procedures, products and

processes that should be eliminated from the project where possible. If not, then we need to reduce hazards and clearly communicate to the contractor

• Amber lists are products, processes and procedures that

should be eliminated or reduced as far as possible and only specified/allowed if unavoidable. Including amber items would always lead to provision of information to the contractor

• Green lists are those products, processes and procedures

that are to be positively encouraged

• An example of a RAG list can be found at

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/designers.htm.

What are “Red Amber

Green” (RAG) lists and

how will they help me

as a designer?

Q11:

Anyone who has input into the design, construction and

use of the building/structure as a workplace has Safe by Design responsibilities. For example:

• Clients

• Construction contractors building the workplace • Designers, manufacturers and suppliers of plant to be

used in the workplace

• Controller of the workplace (e.g. owner of the workplace, employer of persons in the workplace)

• Persons installing, erecting, commissioning and

maintaining plant at the workplace.

Who else has

responsibilities in

relation to Safe

by Design?

Q12:

Yes, whilst the design is not fully developed at this stage, your design may constrain safety of construction, operation etc, so Safe by Design principles should be applied. The decisions made at the early stages of design influence later design choices and it may be very difficult to reverse earlier decisions. Your design rationale and justification for design choices made will be of use to those developing the design, so that they can avoid reversing the safety considerations made at the concept/outline stage.

I only carry out concept

and outline design –

do I still need to

follow the Safe by

Design principles?

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Q14:

Safe by Design should not make it more difficult or time consuming to design and build projects. Incorporation of Safe by Design principles from the outset may actually help reduce costs by e.g. improved buildability.

Does Safe by Design

mean it will take longer

to design and/or build

projects?

Safe design integrates risk management principles into the design by involving designers, clients, construction contractors, end users and other relevant parties in considering the most appropriate design and each stage in the process.

Involved parties can systematically identify hazards and reduce or eliminate associated risks. These parties can also communicate to the client, users and other relevant parties, any residual risks associated with the design.

How do Safe by

Design principles work

in practice?

Q15:

As far as reasonably practicable, clients need to provide us

with information relating to:

• The range of work activities associated with the intended

use of the building/structure

• Any maintenance, repair, service and cleaning activities

that will take place in the building/structure

• Known hazards or risks relating to the site where

construction is to occur (e.g. contaminated soil, overhead power lines, underground services etc.)

What is the client’s role

in Safe by Design?

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Q16:

A number of countries have specific legislative requirements

for Safe by Design.

However most countries will require relevant parties to provide a workplace that is safe and without risk as far as is reasonably practicable.

There may be significant penalties imposed for both organisations and individuals found to be in breach of local requirements.

What happens if

we ignore Safe by

Design, are there any

penalties?

Q17:

The following websites provide practical examples which may be useful.

In the UK:

• Safe by Design (SID) www.sid.org.uk

• Designers Initiative on health and safety (DIOHAS)

www.diohas.org.uk

• Design best practice (dbp) www.dbp.org.uk • UK Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)

http://learninglegacy.london2012.com/themes/design-and-engineering-innovation/index.php In Singapore: • https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/resources?action=detail edInfoStop&fInfoStopID=IS2010012500120 In Australia: • www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safetyinyourworkplace/ safedesign/pages/safedesign.aspx • http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/ publications/pages/wc00976_chairsafetyindesigntool.aspx

Where can I find

practical examples of

how Safe by Design

has been applied?

Q18:

Any information on significant hazards, that is anything

unusual or likely to be difficult to manage on site, should be communicated to the contractor responsible for the construction, so that they are aware and can plan effectively.