The best way to ensure your project is safe, compliant and successful is to develop the skills is to incorporate safety planning and designs prior to commencing your build.

Safety in design refers to the integration of risk management throughout the entire design process. This means that you should start any project by identifying any potential risks and review how they can be controlled and mitigated.

Applying solid risk management principles early in the design process is the most effective way to eliminate or significantly reduce the risks to health and safety.

Designing for safety is a legislative obligation for anyone designing a building or a structure - or part of a building or a structure - intended to function as a workplace. While residential buildings are not usually intended to be workplaces, you will find that solid safety planning saves you both time and money down the track. Reviewing and adjusting any plans for enhanced safety prior to commencing the work is cheaper than having to re-work your plans once issues arise.

Every employer shall provide and maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of their employees and contractors. As an employer, you owe a duty to consult with your employees about general items which may affect their safety. Integrating ‘safety thinking’ into your planning and design stages is an important step that will help you meet these legal requirements.