Links:

It is recognized that many design professionals lack the necessary knowledge of construction safety and site operations to adequately design for construction safety. Fortunately, researchers, government offices and practitioners have developed tools that assist designers in designing for construction safety.

Safety researchers sponsored by the Construction Industry Institute developed over 400 design suggestions that could be used by design professionals to minimize or eliminate safety hazards in their designs. These design practices were incorporated into a computer design tool titled “Design for Construction Safety Toolbox”, which can be purchased from the CII. The design suggestions are categorized according to project components, such as project layout, structural framing, and foundations.

The Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom (the equivalent to the US’ OSHA) has developed several documents that help designers comply with the requirement that they design for construction safety. These documents are available on the websites shown here. http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm and http://www.cskills.org/healthsafety/cdmregulations/

Safety professionals in Australia have created a tool called Construction Hazard Assessment Implication Review (CHAIR). CHAIR’s goal is to identify risks in a design as soon as possible in the life of a project and considers construction, operations, and maintenance activities. This process specifies that all stakeholders review the design in a prescribed and facilitated method to ensure that the occupational safety and health issues of these stakeholders are considered in the design phase of the project.

While it is believed that these tools are practical and helpful, it is recognized that case studies are needed to verify the value of these tools and to identify ways to improve them.

Other PtD-related websites

Links kindly provided by Travis Langbecker (under construction)

CODES OF PRACTICE AND GUIDANCE FROM WORKSAFE AUTHORITIES FROM AUSTRALIA

QLD Government Guideline to the Obligation of Designers of Structures http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/designersobligations.pdf

WA Safe Design of Buildings and Structures Code of Practice 2008 http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/PDF/Codes_of_Practice/Safe_design.pdf

WA – Safe Design of Buildings and Structures – Guidance for designers http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/PDF/National_Standards/Guidance_for_Designers_3_April_2008.pdf

WA – Safe Design of Buildings and Structures – Guidance for clients http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/PDF/National_Standards/Guidance_for_Clients_4_April_2008.pdf

NSW – Safe Design of Buildings and Structures http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Pages/safedesignguide.aspx

NSW – CHAIR  http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/chair_safety_in_design_tool_0976.pdf

ACT – National Standard for Construction Work  http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2010-235/

ACT Work Safety Commissioner Guidance Material ACT Safe Design – Safe Structures, Systems and Workplaces September 2009  http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/Worksafe/Publications/Handbooks/WSACT_HB_0040_-_Safe_Design-_Safe_Structures_Systems_Workplaces.pdf

http://www.worksafety.act.gov.au/page/view/1249

SA – Guideline – Building Designers and Owners – How the Regulations Affect You  http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/uploaded_files/regInfo2.pdf

Victoria – Guidance Material – Designer Safer Buildings and Structures http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/wsinternet/worksafe/home/forms+and+publications/publications/import_designing+safer+buildings+and+structures 

Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice for Safe Design of Buildings and Structures http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Legislation/PublicComment/Documents/Draft%20Model%20Work%20Health%20and%20Safety%20Codes%20of%20Practice%20Public%20Comment/Draft%20Model%20Codes%20of%20Practice%20for%20Public%20Comment/Safe-Design-of-Building-and-Structures.pdf

SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS - Guidance for Construction Regulations 2003

Advisory Note of Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993, Construction Regulations 2003 http://www.cesa.co.za/_f1l3z_/advisorynotes/04_2.pdf

Client Information Sheet 3 http://www.saace.co.za/public_downloads/SAACEClientInformationSheet3.pdf

STEEL ERECTION

QLD Steel Construction Code of Practice http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/steel_code.pdf

ACT – Steel Construction Code of Practice http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2010-231/  

Victoria – Industry Standard – Safe Erection of Structural Steel for Buildings http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/wsinternet/worksafe/home/forms+and+publications/publications/industry+standard,+safe+erection+of+structural+steel+for+buildings

Australian Steel Institute - Technical Note TN002 Issues with temporary bracing of steel structures http://steel.org.au/media/File/Tech_Note_TN002_v224_Jan_2011.pdf  

South African Institute of Steel Construction  http://saisc.co.za/saisc/specifying_structures.htm

Institute of Civil Engineers – Health and Safety – Guidance and Legislation Home page for guidance sheets http://www.ice.org.uk/topics/healthandsafety/Policy/Guidance-and-legislation, http://www.ice.org.uk/Information-resources/Document-Library/Health-guidance-for-designers,-steelwork

CIVIL / FOUNDATION / CONCRETE WORK/BRIDGES

Safer foundations by design, HSE Research Report 319 http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr319.htm

QLD Formwork Code of Practice2006 http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/formwork_code2006.pdf

Institute of Civil Engineers – Health and Safety – Guidance and Legislation Home page for guidance sheets http://www.ice.org.uk/topics/healthandsafety/Policy/Guidance-and-legislation, http://www.ice.org.uk/Information-resources/Document-Library/Health-guidance-for-designers,-groundworks, http://www.ice.org.uk/Information-resources/Document-Library/Health-guidance-for-designers,-concrete-and-mortar

Victoria – Industry Code of Practice – Construction and Erection of Bridge Beams http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/wsinternet/worksafe/home/forms+and+publications/publications/import_construction+and+erection+of+bridge+beams

DEMOLITION

The Role of the Structural Engineer in demolition, Ron Clarke, The Structural Engineer 88 (11) 2 June 2010 pages 28-33 http://www.rwclarke.com/PubRole.html

Institute of Civil Engineers – Health and Safety – Guidance and Legislation Home page for guidance sheets http://www.ice.org.uk/topics/healthandsafety/Policy/Guidance-and-legislation, http://www.ice.org.uk/Information-resources/Document-Library/Health-guidance-for-designers,-demolition

GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON DESIGNING FOR SAFETY

OTHER

This website is maintained by Mike Toole at Bucknell University in conjunction with the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable workgroup on designing for construction safety and the NIOSH NORA Construction Sector Council Construction Hazards Prevention through Design workgroup. This website is not associated with the American Society of Civil Engineers or its Construction Institute. Privacy Statement.