Learn how safety in design helps make construction projects safer by planning for risks early, using smart design choices, and following safety rules.
Use this FREE Risk Register Template to identify, track, and treat any risks that could impact your project.
Many construction projects still treat safety as an afterthought, addressing hazards only after the build has started, when changes are costly and limited. Safety in Design (SiD) helps project teams, engineers, and designers shift that thinking.
This guide explains how SiD works, why it's legally required, and what steps you can take to design out risks early. Here, you'll find practical tools, principles, and examples to improve safety, compliance, and performance from the start.
Safety in Design (Sid) is the process of identifying and eliminating hazards during the early design phase of a construction project. The goal is to reduce safety risks before work begins, not after issues arise on site.
This proactive approach ensures that safety is considered into how a structure is built, used, maintained, and eventually demolished. It forms the foundation of safe design principles in the construction industry.
In Australia, SiD is a legal requirement. Under WHS Regulation 295, designers must consider the health and safety of anyone who interacts with a structure throughout the project lifecycle, including workers, maintenance personnel, and demolition teams.
By applying Safety in Design during the design stage, teams can eliminate or minimise foreseeable hazards, reduce reliance on reactive controls, and improve compliance, efficiency, and long-term outcomes.
Design decisions directly affect construction work safety. According to research published by Safe Work Australia, approximately 37% of work-related fatalities in construction were linked to design issues that could have been prevented with safer design practices.
When safety is considered early, hazards can often be eliminated altogether. That means fewer incidents, fewer delays, and fewer costs tied to redesign, injury, or reactive fixes on site.
Good design also leads to better workflows, improved safety standards, and easier maintenance, benefits that last well beyond the construction phase. In short, safe design saves lives, time, and money.
Beyond improving safety outcomes, strong Safety in Design practices can also help you win work. Many clients expect clear safety documentation when evaluating tenders. Showing that your team designs with user safety in mind can give you an edge in a competitive bid environment.
Before putting Safety in Design into action, it's important to understand the principles that guide it. These form the foundation for every decision made during the design phase of a construction project:
These principles align with Safe Work Australia’s guidance on safe design and form the basis of a compliant, practical, and forward-thinking design process.
These ten steps outline how to systematically integrate safety into the design process. Each one plays a role in identifying and reducing risks before construction begins.
Understand your WHS obligations, including national and state-specific duties. This step ensures your design complies with legal requirements from the start.
Begin applying SiD principles in the concept phase, before design decisions are locked in. Early action maximises your ability to influence safe outcomes.
Engage project owners, engineers, end-users, and contractors in the design process. Their insights improve hazard identification and solution development.
Review existing reports, conduct site visits, and identify hazards specific to location, use, and future maintenance.
Apply formal risk assessment methods like HAZID or CHAIR to evaluate likelihood and consequence of each potential risk.
Aim to eliminate risks first. If not possible, use engineering or administrative controls to reduce them.
Discuss safety decisions with others and record the outcomes. Good communication prevents knowledge gaps.
Keep a Design Risk Register up to date. This shows what hazards have been considered and how they’re being managed.
Clearly communicate any remaining risks to contractors and maintenance workers. This ensures safety measures are followed during construction and operation.
After project completion, gather feedback and document lessons learned to improve safety outcomes in future designs.
To make Safety in Design practical, it helps to see how the 10 steps align with construction project design phases. This table maps out what to do and when so you can apply the right tools and actions at each stage.
Once you’ve mapped your SiD process, you’ll need the right tools to support it. These help your team assess risks, document decisions, and communicate safety clearly at every stage.
These are the essential tools every project team should use to document safety decisions, track risks, and meet compliance requirements.
These tools use technology to improve how safety is reviewed, communicated, and controlled during the design process.
Under the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulation 295, anyone who influences design in construction must eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes designers, engineers, consultants, and others involved in shaping a structure.
The law requires duty holders to consult with clients, contractors, and other stakeholders throughout the design process. Failure to comply can result in significant penalties.
To demonstrate compliance, designers must maintain two key documents such as design Design Risk Register and Safety in Design (SiD) Report. These records help demonstrate legal accountability and support safer outcomes across the construction lifecycle.
The responsibilities under SiD law vary depending on your role. The layout below shows how designers, engineers, clients, and contractors each contribute to compliance and risk control.
SiD is part of a broader family of safety-focused design approaches. Here's how it compares to related concepts like Safety by Design, Safe Design, and Safety through Design:
While both are essential for managing hazards, this comparison highlights the proactive vs reactive nature of each approach, this section compares two key approaches:
These case studies highlight how different approaches to design, construction risk management, and hazard identification can either prevent or contribute to serious safety issues in construction projects.
According to the Australian Constructors Association report, one project involved designing a structure so it could be assembled in self-supporting sections. This allowed construction crews to work progressively, keeping crane lifts within safe reach and reducing the need for temporary props. These design choices helped minimise trip hazards and the need to work at height.
Subcontractors and suppliers were engaged early to review installation sequences, leading to safer, more practical solutions. The project achieved a high H&S risk control score (HOC score of 4.2), showing how collaboration and proactive planning can significantly improve site safety.
A shopping centre travelator collapse in Queensland revealed major safety issues. According to the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor Queensland, the incident resulted in a serious injury and a $100,000 fine for the engineering firm responsible.
The design failed to account for machinery load and structural stress during installation. No clear control measures were documented. Moreover, communication gaps led to missed warning. This is a reminder of why early risk assessment and adherence to safety standards are essential.
These two case studies highlight what can go right and wrong when Safety in Design is applied during early project planning. Here's what they reveal:
These examples reinforce a simple truth: good design choices made early can prevent incidents, save costs, and deliver safer, more resilient projects.
Safety in Design pays off by reducing risks, cutting down on costly redesigns, and improving safety outcomes on site. This leads to safer builds, fewer delays, and stronger project outcomes. By prioritising Safety in Design, you help ensure that every project phase runs more safely and smoothly.
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