Safety in Design

Purpose

RPD identifies, reviews and controls the WHS risks that come out of design — methodology, access, temporary works, repair sequencing and building details — wherever it can influence how remedial, painting, facade, waterproofing or repair work is planned and carried out.

RPD does not proceed where a design risk is unclear and the uncertainty could affect structural adequacy, safe access, temporary works, waterproofing performance, public safety or worker safety.

Procedure

Field	Requirement
Applies when	RPD influences methodology, temporary works, access systems, anchors, facade/weatherproofing details, waterproofing interfaces, repair sequencing, demolition/breakout methods, substrate preparation or the way work is carried out on an occupied building.
Owner	Director or Project Manager, with engineer, designer, principal design practitioner, building practitioner, facade consultant, waterproofing consultant or other competent person input where required.
Before work starts	Review drawings, specifications, substrate condition, existing services, structural capacity, access constraints, resident/public interface, temporary works needs, permits, certificates and any safe design information from the client, designer or engineer.
Minimum controls	Document design assumptions, temporary support needs, exclusion zones, anchor requirements, scaffold/EWP/access requirements, waterproofing interfaces, facade sequencing, demolition/breakout limits, inspection points and hold points.
Hold point	Do not proceed where structural adequacy, temporary works design, anchor suitability, access design, waterproofing detail, facade fixing detail, DBP Act requirement or other design-risk control is unclear.
Breadcrumb function	Permits where the design risk controls a high-risk activity; site alerts for changed access, exclusion zones or sequencing; SWMS records for revised methods; toolbox talks for worker communication.
Stop / escalate	Escalate unresolved design risks to the client, engineer, designer, principal design practitioner, building practitioner or other competent person before work continues. Repeat or unresolved design-risk issues are escalated into PIMS.

DBP Act Coordination

Where work is carried out on a regulated building or involves building work, professional engineering work, design compliance declarations, regulated designs or variations covered by the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW), RPD must confirm the required design pathway before work continues.

RPD must not make, approve or proceed with a design change that requires designer, engineer, principal design practitioner, building practitioner, certifier or client approval unless that approval has been confirmed and recorded.

DBP Act-related communication may include design declarations, engineering advice, waterproofing details, facade fixing details, fire safety implications, structural adequacy, performance solutions, design variations and instructions from the client or design team. These records are retained in the project file or nominated project system.

Design Risk Review

Design risk area	RPD checks
Access and work at height	Scaffold, EWP, rope access, ladders, roof access, edge protection, anchor points, rescue arrangements and exclusion zones are suitable for the task and building conditions.
Temporary works	Temporary supports, propping, bracing, loading, demolition/breakout sequence and structural limitations are reviewed before work starts.
Facade and weatherproofing	Fixings, sealants, membranes, flashings, joints, substrate condition, drainage paths and sequencing are checked so the repair method does not create unsafe rework or building failure.
Waterproofing interfaces	Details around penetrations, terminations, falls, bond breakers, drains, upturns and substrate preparation are confirmed before covering or closing up work.
Existing building hazards	Services, asbestos unexpected finds, lead paint, silica-generating materials, unstable substrates, occupied areas and emergency access constraints are considered.
Public and resident interface	Design and method choices account for falling objects, dust, fumes, access changes, noise, isolation zones, signage and building-user communication.

Records and Evidence

Record	System / location	Evidence required
Strategic design-risk decision	WHS Manual / project file	Decision rule, approval pathway and reason for escalation where design risk affects the project method.
Safe design information	Project file	Drawings, specifications, engineer advice, designer instructions, client information, certificates, reports and known hazards.
DBP Act records where applicable	Project file / nominated project system	Regulated design information, declarations, engineering advice, design approvals, variations and practitioner communications.
Site instructions and changed conditions	Breadcrumb	Site Alert, supervisor instruction, changed access/exclusion zone record, toolbox talk or project communication.
Permits and SWMS changes	Breadcrumb	Permit record, revised SWMS, worker briefing and evidence that controls were communicated before work continued.
Design-risk findings	PIMS	Audit finding, formal corrective action, non-conformance, root cause, close-out and effectiveness check where required.

Quick Guide

Step	What RPD checks
1. Identify the design influence	Ask whether RPD is influencing access, sequencing, anchors, temporary works, waterproofing, facade details, repair method or demolition/breakout limits.
2. Get the right information	Collect drawings, specifications, client information, engineering advice, substrate information, service information and known hazards.
3. Check constructability	Confirm the work can be built, accessed, inspected, maintained and completed safely using the proposed method.
4. Apply the hierarchy of controls	Remove the risk through design where possible. If not, use engineering, isolation, administrative controls and PPE.
5. Confirm DBP Act requirements	Where the DBP Act may apply, confirm whether a regulated design, declaration, practitioner approval or design variation process is required.
6. Communicate the controls	Put controls into SWMS, permits, site alerts, toolbox talks, access plans and supervisor briefings.
7. Use the hold point	Stop if structural adequacy, temporary works, access design, anchor suitability or waterproofing/detailing is unclear.
8. Escalate and record	Escalate unresolved issues to the client, engineer, designer or other competent person. Keep site records in Breadcrumb and formal findings in PIMS.