Safety is one of the key considerations at the design stage of a construction project in modern project management. In Hong Kong, the guidance on design for safety had been established, the construction industry should consider the health and safety problem when construct or maintain the building in the design stage. In particular, designers are responsible to plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety during the pre-construction phase. Designer should also prepare or modify the designs to eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks that may arise during construction, the maintenance and use of a building with relevant dutyholders.

Keeping abreast of the development of design for safety definitely will help to sustain the safety performance of the construction industry. In this regard, the Occupational Safety and Health Council organizes the 2-day Workshop on Design for Safety for Construction Industry. The workshop will introduce the Hong Kong experience in implementing design for safety in construction projects; the roles and responsibilities of the key dutyholders; the influence of design for safety on building structure life cycle and the principal tools. Case studies and worked examples in Hong Kong will be used for illustration of the practical application during the workshop. The workshop will be combined with group discussion and exercise on the key elements relating to design for safety. The aims of the workshop are to provide participants with the knowledge on design for safety concept as well as OSH hazards identification and risk assessment techniques in early design stage.