Safety in design guide

Read time: 10 minutes

Safety in design provides a system to formally document a process demonstrating systematic risk management. This process involves a range of participants and stakeholders in consideration of a range of issues such as aesthetics, function, safety and environment.

In the early stages of a project, the designer should consider the structure’s lifecycle including its intended purpose, materials to be used, possible methods of construction, maintenance, operation and demolition and identify hazards and control them through elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administration or personal protective equipment (PPE).

This guidance note includes a downloadable Safety in design risk register template.

Page contents:

• What is safe design?
• Who are the designers?
• Legal requirements for designers
• WHS Law harmonisation (ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA and Tas)
• Reasonably practicable
• Safe design principles
• Resources
• References