Importance Of Safety In Design

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All products and structures have to be designed with safety in mind. The safety of the end user as well as that of the workers on the project has to be taken into account at all stages of the design process. Under the Irish Safety, Health and Welfare at work (Construction) Regulations 2006 to 2008 a ‘designer’ is defined as any person involved in works related to the design of a project. The regulations state that the first duty of designer is: ‘In carrying out work related to the design of a particular project, a designer shall…take account of the general principles of prevention. (REF: Designing for Safety in Construction by Jack Kavanagh for Engineers Ireland) These principles include, among others – The avoidance of risk – The evaluation of unavoidable risks
– The combating of risks at source
Safety in design is of special relevance to Structural Engineers because almost all the structures the engineer designs will be used by members of the public. The structural engineer has a Duty of Care to the public’s safety. The engineer has to design his structure to a high quality that would be reasonably expected by a competent professional. If, in the case of a structural failure it is found that the engineer did not act in a competent manner, then he or she may be found liable.
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In doing so, he must take into account design demands and all relevant statutory requirements including statutory duties required by the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) regulations. In taking into account the general principles of prevention, the regulations are basically saying that the designer, in so far as it reasonably practicable, should try to eliminate hazards and mitigate risks to the workers during the construction phase (as well as for the end

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