Understanding Your Role as a Designer

As a designer in the construction industry, your responsibilities extend beyond the creative process. It is crucial to comply with the Work Health and Safety Act, ensuring that your designs are free from risks to health and safety.

Who Qualifies as a Designer?

Defining Your Role

• You are considered a designer if your profession involves creating sketches, plans, or drawings for structures. This includes decision-making that impacts the health and safety of those involved in constructing, using, or interacting with the structure.
  
  

When is a Written Design Report Necessary?

Section 295 Compliance

• Understand the requirement of providing a written design report, especially if your design involves unusual or atypical features that pose unique hazards during construction. This report is essential to address specific risks associated with your design.
  
  

Components of the Written Design Report

Information Inclusion

• The written report should encompass details about hazardous materials, structural features, and your assessment of potential risks to construction workers. It's a crucial element in fulfilling your duty under the Work Health and Safety Act.
  
  

Consultation with the Design Client

Ensuring Safety Expectations

• Collaborate with the design client, especially if they are a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking), to gather site-specific information that might affect the safety of construction workers. This consultation aids in creating a shared understanding of safety expectations.
  
  

Written Report Requirement for Designs of Homes

Understanding Your Obligations

• Recognize that providing a written report is mandatory only when the design client is a PCBU. If the client falls outside this category, such as a home buyer or owner undertaking DIY projects, a written report is not mandatory.
  
  

Transitional Provisions: Compliance Timeline

Applicability Since January 2012

• Be aware that the duties imposed on designers under section 295 of the WHS Regulation have been applicable for designs commissioned by a PCBU since January 1, 2012. Designs commissioned before this date should comply with the obligations of the repealed Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.
  
  

Conclusion: Your Design, Their Safety

As a designer, your role is integral in ensuring not just aesthetic appeal but also the safety of those involved in the construction process. Adhering to regulations, providing comprehensive reports, and collaborating with stakeholders contribute to creating a safer working environment. Remember, designing responsibly today safeguards against potential compensation issues arising from workplace accidents in the future. Stay informed, design safely!