A voluntary approach to designing for safer construction

Preventing occupational health and safety hazards through design is consistent with the principle that occupational health and safety is best managed by eliminating hazards at their 'source' rather than reducing risks that eventuate in the workplace. In 2007, an industry-initiated research and development project was undertaken in Australia to identify and document best practices used in the management of occupational health and safety in the construction industry, resulting in the publication of a Guide to Best Practice for Safer Construction. The project was a whole industry effort to identify occupational health and safety 'best practices' through the project life cycle. The guide provides an industry-agreed framework for clients, designers and constructors, with an emphasis on cooperation, communication and reaching consensus about a reasonable allocation of responsibility for occupational health and safety in a given project situation. Four years since the publication of the guide, the implementation of the design stage best practices is examined. Three case study projects (a large road construction project, a desalination plant and a high-rise building project) are used to illustrate the practical impact of considering the occupational health and safety of construction workers in design decision-making in accordance with the 'safer construction' principles contained in the guide.