Construction Industry

Forum
26 July 2005

Safe Design in Construction

 Role of Design in Workplace
Fatalities and Injuries

NOHSC Research finding (1997–2002):

Design contributed to -
37% of work-related serious and fatal injuries
most prominent in the ‘machinery and fixed plant’,
and ‘mobile plant and transport’ group;
Most affected industries: mining, construction,
transport, agriculture, trade and manufacturing
Most solutions to identified design problems are
readily available or already exist.

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 Design-related incidents in
Construction Industry

Main recurrent circumstances

Contact with electricity with no RCD protection
Machine/equipment guarding
Inadequate fall protection
Inadequate rollover protection, seat belt related
Roofing material & structure
Hydraulics
Building construction (the method or system of
construction)

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 What is Safe Design?

It is a design process that focuses on eliminating

or minimising hazards at the design stage.
Designed-products, are broadly defined:
Buildings and structures
Plant (machinery, equipment, appliances & tools);
Substances;
Work methods and systems of work (including
packaging).

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 Safe Design - 5 Principles

Principle 1: Control or Influence

Responsibility for safe design rests with parties or persons in control or having
influence over the design of products, items or systems of work;

Principle 2: Lifecycle of Designed-Products

Application of a lifecycle approach is key to the safe design of designed-
products;

Principle 3: Systematic Risk Management

A systematic risk management process is required to be implemented;
Principle 4: Knowledge and Capability for Safe Design
Demonstrated capability, or accessed by, any designer or person with control
and influence over safe design; and,
Principle 5: Key Information Transfer and Feedback
Reciprocal transfer and feedback of information to all involved.

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 Safe Design Outcome

Fail-safe Design
Designed-product should fail in a safe manner where no
damage can ensue with zero - minimised hazard & risk to
health - safety of people working at or near the vicinity.
Fail-Soft Design
Designed-product should fail with partial performance
degradations. A total shutdown can be avoided.
Worst-Case Design
Applying worst performance values of parameters where the
designed-product still meets the specifications under all
specified operating conditions.

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 Safe Design Outcome

Life cycle Design for Safety

Design to eliminate or minimise hazard at each stage of the
life cycle with consideration for its life cycle use environment.

Robustness
Design to operate safely under uncertain environment and
unpredictable changes within the desired operating range.
Critical parameters affecting people and environmental safety
should be designed with adequate safety margin. (Within the
6-sigma capability)

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 COST of SAFE DESIGN

Design Construct/ Supply/ Commissio De- Disposal/

Concept Design Manufactur n Maintain commissi recycle
Install
e Use on

Safe Retrofit (Modify)

Design

Ease of Cost of
safety safety
implement implemen
ation tation
(safe
design)

Moving safety from an

afterthought to
forethought in the design
process

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CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
KEY OHS RISKS

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CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
KEY OHS RISKS

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 SAFE DESIGN
Case Studies
Safe design: Nov 2004
Exhaust fumes from diesel engine at basement got into the air
conditioning intakes on Floors 4 to 7, building was evacuated.

• When building was first built, there was

no restriction to exhaust ventilation.
• With development, adjacent buildings
were causing environmental restriction
to existing exhaust ventilation systems,
creating unsafe and uncomfortable
workplace environment!
Corrective action: Building owner to fix
Preventive Actions:
• Development Act – LG admin controls
• BCA building regulations & controls
• Building Designers’ responsibility
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 SAFE DESIGN
Case Studies

Safe design: Jan 2005

Maintenance worker received electric shock after coming into
contact with an LIVE evaporative cooling system isolation switch
filled with water.

Cause: Water droplets from

the filter pad splashed onto the
fan-motor power cable and
gradually gained entry into the
conduit and switch housing
through gravity feed.

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SAFE DESIGN
Case Studies

Safe Design Consideration:

Install a 90o elbow facing
downwards at the cable
entry point from the inside
of unit to create the lowest
dip point by design.
Sealing the conduit entry
point with silicone rubber
or equivalent may not
provide a permanent
barrier.

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 SAFE DESIGN
Case Studies

Cabinet door handle Sound for the drain

pipe!

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 SA STRATEGY for
SAFE DESIGN
WPS
EPA OTR
OCBA TSA

Planning SA Regulatory Local Councils

Agencies

RESOURCE
NOHSC
WPS
DAIS Safer
Whole-of- Industries
Industries
Govt Groups
DECS Focus Focus

DTEI Foundation
Construction for Safety
Industry Forum SA

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SAFE DESIGN PROCUREMENT

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 SAFE DESIGN
Industry concerns/comments

1) Cost of Safe Design

2) Aesthetics vs Buildability and Safety
3) Responsibility for Life-Cycle use environment
4) Integrity of plant and equipment in building/structure
5) Small vs Large organisation
6) Safe Design procurement
7) Resource & Support

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 More Information on Safe Design

NOHSC articles on safe design information is available at:

http://www.nohsc.gov.au/SafeDesign/Information_sources/default.asp

The Royal Academy of Engineering have published 4 documents of interest

on "The Long-Term Costs of Owning and Operating Buildings" ( publication
R5) and the series of whole-of-life-cycle aspects of risk, in the series "Societal
aspects of Risk" (publications L14.1 - 3)
http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/publications/list/default.htm?TypeID=2#8
http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/

WorkCover Corporation Information sheets for on duty holder responsibilities

for building safety and plant safety.
D:\NOHSC\Safe Design\SA Workcover\regInfo2.pdf
D:\NOHSC\Safe Design\SA Workcover\717_BO Info Sheet 9a.pdf

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