Management of Health, safety and risk throughout the design process

Health and safety to those using, maintaining and building the building is one of many aspects of the project, but like cost, quality and program, it needs to be integral to all decisions. In our experience, the best way to manage these different factors is to identify and engage with them as early as possible in the project. 

Below are the aspects which we feel are most likely to impact the success of how health and safety is implemented on projects and how we would look to manage this.

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Information is made available to the right people at the right time to enable them to undertake their work. As Principal designer, we will look to ensure that this information is produced and made available.

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As the principles of prevention are the backbone of risk management ensure that they are considered when managing risk and are intrinsic to the design process.

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Review of the PD duties to show how they are being discharged and identify any improvements.

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Engage with the subcontractors early in the design stage and not just the consultants. It is important that these designers are engaged early. This also gives designers the opportunity to explore more innovative methods that may reduce risk exposure on site, this could include pre-fabrication or better co-ordinated.

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Understanding how the building is to be used and constructed is important to help design out risks. Factors such as access and sensitivity of the surrounding area may influence the construction methods.

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The skills and competency of the design team are important to the success of the project both from a safety as well as a cost and quality point of view. We will endeavour to identify any areas during our risk reviews where extra competency may be required.

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Communication and Coordination is a cornerstone to the success of the project. This could include, but not be limited to, the following.

• Periodic risk review meetings with consultants and the creation of a register to include only significant or unusual risks.

• Ensure that the CDM has a place on all meeting agendas.

• Communicate responsibilities and expectations to all involved with design.

• Visit other consultants individually to Build a strong working relationship

• Review design changes to ensure they consider health and safety impacts

 

Examples of how Risk wise work to Promote health and safety culture

 

Health and safety awards: Risk Wise have nominated several companies for health and safety awards. Bath Demolition has been put forward three times and won twice. We nominated a project in London for a CDM award, and although they were unsuccessful they were shortlisted.

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CPD Training: Risk Wise Consulting offers free CPD training to any organisations that we work with including contractors and consultants. This is a good opportunity for us to better understand the issues and explain the benefits of getting safety right.

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Use pictures or drawings rather than words: To liven up the risk registers and ensure that each line on the register corresponds to a drawing.  This helps to engage people and brings the issue to life.

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YouTube: We have produced some animations in the past which help describe to designers what it is I require from them. I hope that using different forms of media will help spread the health and safety message in a different way.

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https://youtu.be/7UKaExOXssk    /   https://youtu.be/5o2BF5jxzeY