Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00410:body:0:p1
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Work Health and Safety (Safe Design of Structures) Code of Practice 2015

made under the

Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 274 (Approved Codes of Practice)

1 Name of instrument

This instrument is the Work Health and Safety (Safe Design of Structures) Code of Practice 2015.

2 Commencement

This instrument commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

3 Code of Practice Approval

I approve the Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice. I am satisfied that this code of practice was developed by a process described in section 274(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Michaelia Cash
Minister for Employment

17 December 2015

Date

SAFE DESIGN
OF STRUCTURES

Code of Practice

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD
1.   INTRODUCTION
1.1  What is safe design?
1.2  Who has health and safety duties in relation to the design of structures?
1.3  What is 'reasonably practicable' in relation to the designer's duty?
2.   KEY ELEMENTS OF SAFE DESIGN
2.1  Use a risk management approach
2.2  Consider the lifecycle
2.3  Knowledge and capability
2.4  Consultation, co-operation and co-ordination
2.5  Information transfer
3.   INTEGRATING DESIGN AND RISK MANAGEMENT
3.1  Pre-design phase
3.2  Conceptual and schematic design phase
3.3  Design development phase
3.4  Reviewing control measures
4.   DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
4.1  Design for safe construction
4.2  Design to facilitate safe use
4.3  Design for safe maintenance
4.4  Modification
4.5  Demolition and dismantling
APPENDIX A – ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
APPENDIX B – SAFETY IN DESIGN CHECKLIST
APPENDIX C – CASE STUDIES

FOREWORD
This Code of Practice on the safe design of structures is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act).
An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulations (the WHS Regulations).
A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. In most cases, following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act, in relation to the subject matter of the code. Like regulations, codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover all hazards or risks which may arise. The health and safety duties require duty holders to consider all risks associated with work, not only those for which regulations and codes of practice exist.
Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and Regulations. Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control and may rely on the