Design Safety Analysis and
Control - Explained
This is an abridged paper covering the core concepts presented at National Safety Council's Congress and Expo; New Orleans (September 2004), at Northern Ireland's IOSH Branch meeting in October 2004 and in November 2004 at a special CDM meeting convened by the H&S Board of the Institution of Civil Engineers in London.
Authors:
Philip McAleenan MSSc FInstLM Cert. L. Member ASSE (Managing Partner, Expert Ease International)
Ciaran McAleenan MPhil CEng MICE CMIOSH Professional Member ASSE.
Abstract:
Engineers and designers must design construction projects that can be built, used, maintained and eventually demolished in a manner that does not cause harm to construction personnel, end users, maintenance operatives, demolition specialists, and others who may come into contact with the project. On the interface between client, designer, engineer and contractor this requires the acceptance of project objectives that include tasks/ activities being completed on time and in a manner that does not cause harm to the employees, customers, other non-employees, or the company.
Some hazards can be eliminated or contained through good engineering design solutions and others, inherent in the process, have to be worked around. In all cases it is essential to identify at the earliest opportunity what hazards exist, the harm that can result and how it does so.
Fundamentally this necessitates a full analysis of the design safety issues and the development of appropriate controls to ensure that work operations during the construction phase proceed in a manner that make certain that people, plant and property are protected from harm prior to, during and after the work operation, regardless of the nature of the hazards faced.
The design safety analysis and control process (below), derived from the OAC model integrates all aspects of the project process including those associated with the design elements in construction. Underpinning this approach to safety is the elimination of risk through the absolute control of all stages of the process. The model suits the requirements of European Council Directive 92/57/EEC on the implementation of minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites with particular reference to project preparation. There are three stages to the design analysis and control model as follows;
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