scope:

This technical report provides guidance on including prevention through design concepts regarding the application of occupational safety and health principles in the construction industry. Through the application of these concepts, occupational hazards and risks can be identified, avoided, reduced, and/ or eliminated before, during and after a building or structure is constructed, renovated, and/or demolished.

This technical report complements but is not intended to replace existing specific standards and procedures, but rather to support those that meet related performance objectives.

The goals of applying prevention through design concepts in an occupational setting are:

A. Achieve that state in which the hazards are identified early, and the exposures to those hazards are reduced to the lowest extent possible to minimize risks.

B. Reduce the occurrence of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

C. Reduce the cost of retrofitting necessary to mitigate hazards and risks that were not addressed in the design or redesign processes.

D. To develop a proactive and collaborative team approach between owners/operators, designers and contractors to develop a safe functioning building and work environment throughout the life of the facility.

Purpose

The purpose of this technical report is to reduce injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the construction industry by incorporating methods and features in the design stage and /or construction planning phase of a new construction project and/or renovation or retrofit of an existing building or facility to make a building or structure safer and healthier to build, maintain, and decontaminate, decommission, deconstruct and ultimately demolish. This document is intended to provide guidance for designers, architects, engineers, constructors and owners/developers on these methods and features.

Application

The concepts discussed in this technical report may be applied in any occupational setting but concentrate on the construction industry.