Designers play a crucial role in ensuring health and safety in construction. As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) involved in designing structures, it's imperative to adhere to the Work Health and Safety Act. The primary responsibility is to create a design that minimizes risks to health and safety, striving for practicality.

When engaged in tasks like preparing sketches, plans, or drawings for a structure, or making decisions affecting health and safety, designers must be aware of their duties. Altering a design without consulting the original or subsequent designer brings about the duties of a designer.

One essential aspect is the written design report, as mandated by Section 295 of the WHS Regulation. This report is specifically required for designs with unusual or atypical features that pose unique hazards during construction. It doesn't apply to standard designs, such as single-storey houses, constructed using typical materials.

The written report should detail any identified hazardous materials or structural features, along with the designer's risk assessment. Conditions ensuring safe construction should be included, potentially leading to recommendations for a redesign.

For designs commissioned by a PCBU since January 1, 2012, the duties outlined in Section 295 of the WHS Regulation apply. Designs commissioned before this date should comply with the obligations set by the repealed Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.

To enhance safety, designers should engage in effective consultation with design clients, sharing site-specific information that could impact construction workers' safety. Collaborative efforts in identifying and addressing health and safety risks during the design phase contribute significantly to eliminating potential hazards for construction workers and other personnel involved in the structure.