Safety in Design

Question 1

What is Safety in Design (SiD)?

Answer 1

• a formalised & systematic approach to identifying & mitigating unsafe design.

Question 2

What is the purpose of SiD?

Answer 2

To apply control measures early in the design process to mitigate risks to health and safety and to communicates the reasons behind safety based decisions.

Question 3

Why is SiD important?

Answer 3

• It is a requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2016, that designers “as far as reasonably practicable” identify, mitigate and communicate hazards associated with their designs.
• penalties
• design directly affects safety
• its good business
• reduced mitigation costs

Question 4

When to do safety in design review?

Answer 4

• as early as possible in the design phase

- as many times as appropriate for the risk of harm & complexity of the design

Question 5

Steps to identify hazards associated with a design:

Answer 5

• identify foreseeable hazards
• assess the risk
• mitigate the risk by designing control measures
• review the control measures for effectiveness

Effort= risk severity+ complexity

Question 6

Interesting quote about risk assessments

Answer 6

Risk assessments significantly depend on life experiences & gained knowledge

Question 7

Important aspects for good risk assessments:

Answer 7

• people know the hazards associated with each phase of the project lifecycle
• knowledge limitations are fully understood
• frames of reference are clearly understood

Question 8

SiD outcomes should:

Answer 8

• be detailed and systematic
• examine the construction, maintenance, repair and demolition risks associated with a design
• provide decision justifications & reasoning’s of determinations

Question 9

SiD requires designers to:

Answer 9

Consider the Lifecycle

• how design will affect H&S of those who interact with it throughout lifecycle
• think about design solutions for hazards throughout lifecycle

Question 10

A designer should also have knowledge of or source guidance on:

Answer 10

• work H&S legislation
• intended purpose of product
• risk management processes
• technical design stds
• construction methods and how design impacts them
• hazards associated with components of product
• human capacities and behaviours

Question 11

Importance of consultation, co-operation & co-ordination

Answer 11

• essential for managing work health and safety risks
• by drawing on the knowledge and experience of other people more informed decisions can be made about how the ‘product’ can be designed to minimise risks.

Question 12

What is information transfer

Answer 12

Key info about hazards and their controls must be communicated to those involved in each stage of the ‘products’ lifecycle.

Question 13

Importance of information transfer:

Answer 13

designer responsibility to ensure the client understands what the residual risks and the subsequent mitigation methodologies are on completion of the design.

Question 14

In terms of monitoring, a designer must take steps to ensure that:

Answer 14

• SiD risk assessment requirements are monitored to ensure SiD requirements are being implemented as required.
• keep the status of control measures and residual risks current
• stakeholders are informed of issues

Question 15

5 steps to undertaking an effective SiD review:

Answer 15

1. identify & engage stakeholders
2. hazard identification
3. undertake the SiD risk assessment
4. eliminate or minimise the risks via re-design
5. document SiD outcomes

Question 16

5 Principal of Safety in Design

Answer 16

• Systematic Risk Management Approach
• Consider the Lifecycle
• Knowledge and Capability
• Consultation, Co-operation and Co-ordination
• Information Transfer