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Managing the health and safety of both your staff and customers within your new commercial build can feel like a complex task that involves screeds of red tape and cash – but with some upfront planning and the right people onboard, it doesn’t need to be.
As everyone’s responsibility, Health and Safety is something that needs to be considered right at the conception stage of your new workplace build. In this article, we’ll look at how you can ensure that health and safety is prioritised.
Health and Safety in the workplace
The Pike River disaster led to changes in legislation, with the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act in 2015 (the Act). The Act introduced a risk management framework and established a workplace regulator, WorkSafe New Zealand, and the mandate to improve learning and development in New Zealand.
Businesses all have responsibilities and obligations under the Act. They must ensure their workers and visitors are safe and healthy at work by managing the risks from the work.
The Act has transformed the landscape of health and safety for business owners, moving it away from merely ticking boxes to fostering a ‘culture of care’ within their workplaces.
The benefits of prioritising Health and Safety stretch further than keeping everyone safe too. Embracing a proactive approach can not only bring immediate advantages in terms of cost and time savings but also promotes a good reputation and ensures the long-term sustainability of both your business and its premises.
Safety in Design: A proactive approach
Health and Safety by Design means you're considering potential hazards before they become realities - integrating safety measures into the fabric of your business operations. It’s a proactive and forward-looking approach that guides every stage of your project, from the initial planning to eventual demolition or repurposing.
When safety is considered during the design phase, potential dangers can be identified early and fixed – which is important, because as a project progresses, it becomes harder and more expensive to integrate these safety measures. It also helps keep the project on track and is a good way of ensuring your business is going to operate efficiently on the site.
The challenge often arises when the safety of a building is just one aspect among a wider set of business and design objectives. As a business owner, you’re often also thinking about practicability, performance, aesthetics, cost and functionality. These sometimes-competing objectives need to be balanced in a way that doesn’t compromise the health and safety of those who use the building.
Your designer will integrate safety measures into each of the design phases. These can usually be broken down into:- Pre-design phase: Before designing begins, your designer can work with you to identify potential hazards.
- Conceptual design phase: Your designer can focus on identifying and mitigating the more specific safety risks. They can analyse various aspects of the design, such as site-specific factors and spatial planning, to enhance safety. Collaboration, research, and evaluation play key roles in laying the foundation for a safe building in this phase.
- Design development phase: Detailed drawings will help to visualise your building. Your designer can check that the building is up to council and regulatory health and safety compliance in this phase.
Designers rely on the building code and industry standards to help ensure their design meets safety criteria, covering aspects like structural integrity, fire safety, and health amenities. Each business and build will however have its own operating systems, equipment and workflow requiring individual assessments.
Lowering the impact of common risks
While specific health and safety risks may vary depending on the nature of the industry, stats show that there are some common risks in industrial settings across New Zealand that business owners need to be vigilant with. These include slips and falls, machinery accidents, exposure to harmful chemicals, and fire hazards.
When you look across these risks, many of them can be mitigated through regular site inspections and building maintenance. Maintenance is crucial for sustained safety at your workplace, with regular inspections and upkeep of machinery and infrastructure reducing the risk of higher repair costs and demands down the track.
Consideration should be given to those who maintain the workspaces, building and surroundings. Making sure the building is designed so that facilities are easily accessible, inspectable, and maintainable is crucial for routine maintenance. Access provisions should prioritise safety and provide enough space for maintenance equipment, vehicles, and people carrying tools.
In cases where there are maintenance challenges, like with rooftop air conditioning units, for example, it is important that there is consideration as to how it will be safely accessed. Safety features like guardrails, access platforms or static lines where harnesses can be connected can help keep people safe.
Efficiency through safety planning
Operational planning involves implementing practical solutions that not only mitigate risks but also enhance your operational efficiency.
To highlight how this could work, one consideration is the separation of customer access from operational areas. By clearly marking these spaces, you minimise the potential for accidents and disruptions while optimising the flow of both foot traffic and business operations.
Designing pathways that are free from hazards and obstructions ensures that employees and visitors can navigate the workspace with confidence and without the risk of slips, trips, or falls.
Installing handrails and barriers on elevated platforms adds an extra layer of protection, reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries in areas where there is a risk of falling or stumbling.
Thinking about health and safety in your building and site design – and taking a proactive approach to it across every phase of your project can not only prevent health and safety incidents, but enhance your operational efficiency and protect your businesses reputation.
It's important to recognise that prioritising health and safety doesn't have to involve a lot of bureaucracy; but employs practical measures that make everyone's jobs easier and contribute to long-term cost savings and improved workflow.
For more information and helpful resources for planning your next commercial build, visit our resources page. Alternatively, if you’d like to discuss your project with one of our consultants, contact us today or book a time with a project consultant.
