Prevention through Design — Introduction

Abstract

One of the best ways to prevent and control occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities is to qdesign outq or minimize hazards and risks early in the design process. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is leading a national initiative called Prevention through Design (PtD) to promote this concept and highlight its importance in all business decisions. PtD addresses occupational safety and health needs in the design process to prevent or minimize the work-related hazards and risks associated with the construction, manufacture, use, maintenance, and disposal of facilities, materials, and equipment. A growing number of business leaders are recognizing PtD as a cost-effective means to enhance occupational safety and health. Many U.S. companies openly support PtD concepts and have developed management practices to implement them. Other countries are actively promoting PtD concepts as well. The United Kingdom began requiring construction companies, project owners, and architects to address safety and health during the design phase of projects in 1994, and companies there have responded with positive changes in management practices to comply with the regulations. Australia developed the Australian National OHS Strategy 2002–2012, which set qeliminating hazards at the design stageq as one of five national priorities. As a result, the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) developed the Safe Design National Strategy and Action Plans for Australia encompassing a wide range of design areas including buildings and structures, work environments, materials, and plant (machinery and equipment). NIOSH has partnered with the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Center to Protect Workers' Rights, Kaiser Permanente, Liberty Mutual, the National Safety Council (NSC), the Occupa­ tional Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ORC World­ wide, and the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering for the development of a National Initiative on Prevention through Design. Additional partners may be joining this national initiative soon and we invite others who are interested in joining to contact NIOSH. The approach to develop and implement the PtD National Initiative is framed by industry sector and within four functional