VICState Library of Victoria
Melbourne, Vic
Safety in Design
Redevelopment of heritage rooms and opening of the Russell St entrance.
Safety in Design Workshops
First-principles risk assessment built into your design, with a living risk register that moves with the project.
Safety in Design is an integral part of any new development and a statutory obligation within the State WHS Acts. There are significant cost savings when health and safety are integrated at early stages of design rather than as fix-ups during or after construction.
Salus Risk uses a first principle risk assessment approach for implementing safety in design. This includes identification of hazards and recommending risk controls to eliminate or minimise the risks. Suggestions are provided for design options, including the identification of areas in which alternative solutions could be adopted, to achieve greater project efficiencies.
Why early matters
Design it out. Don’t fix it up.
There are significant cost savings when health and safety are integrated at early stages of design rather than as fix-ups during or after construction.Salus Risk Consulting
Salus works with architects, engineers and builders from concept onwards, so hazards are removed on paper, where it costs least.
How risks get controlled
Aim for the top of the hierarchy
WHS law asks for risks to be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable, and minimised where they can’t be. The most effective controls are the ones built into a facility before anyone works in it.
Safety in Design workshops focus on the upper levels of the hierarchy: eliminating hazards, substituting safer options and engineering out exposure while the design can still change.
Most effective
- EliminateRemove the hazard completely. Usually only possible at design stage.Level 1
- SubstituteReplace the hazard with something safer.Level 2
- IsolateSeparate people from the hazard.Level 2
- EngineeringPhysical controls such as ventilation, guarding or interlocks.Level 2
- AdministrativeProcedures, signage, training and work practices.Level 3
- PPEPersonal protective equipment as the last line of defence.Level 3
Least effective
The hierarchy of control measures, from Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.
Related projects
Safety in Design Workshops in practice
VIC
VICGeelong Library & Heritage Centre
Geelong, Vic
Safety in Design
A new, six storey building to house the general library collection, heritage collection display, family discovery centre, community lounge, multimedia area, study areas, youth lounge, offices, repository, café and public amenities.
NationalDefence Air Traffic Control Infrastructure Project
14 RAAF Bases
Safety in Design
New and refurbished air traffic control towers and associated systems and energy buildings.
VICPrahran Secondary College
Prahran, Vic
Safety in Design
A new vertical secondary school for 500 students.
SACalvary Private Hospital
Angas & Pulteney Streets, Adelaide, SA
Safety in Design
Development of the largest private hospital in South Australia.
QLDSullivan Nicolaides Pathology Laboratory
Bowen Hills, Qld
Safety in Design, Dangerous Goods & Laboratory Code Review
Liquid argon, packaged flammable liquids, cylinder gases storage, PC2 laboratories, pathology laboratories, offices and workshops.
Other services
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