In the construction industry, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure good health and safety throughout the design, execution, and operation of buildings.
The responsibility for health and safety is shared among several parties.
Here are some of the key stakeholders:
Client (Bygherre):
Overall Responsibility: The client has the primary responsibility to ensure that the working environment is safe and healthy. The client must ensure that a working environment plan is developed and follow up to ensure compliance.
Consultant (Rådgiver):
The designer has a crucial role in relation to the working environment in construction. Here are some key responsibilities of the designer:
Safety in Design: The designer must ensure that the building’s design and construction take the working environment into account. This includes:
- Minimizing risks of work accidents and health issues by selecting safe solutions and materials.
- Providing buildable solutions, including how design solutions can and should be built according to working environment standards.
- Advising on how design solutions can be managed in terms of the working environment.
Risk Identification: The designer must identify potential risks associated with the execution of the construction work and operation and consider these in the project. This may include considering how the work will be performed and what safety measures need to be implemented.
Collaboration with Other Stakeholders: The designer must work closely with the client, contractor, and other involved parties to ensure that the working environment is prioritized in all phases of the project.
Preparation of Working Environment Plan: In some cases, the designer may also be involved in preparing a Safety and Health Plan (PSS), which describes how the working environment will be managed during the construction process, as well as a maintenance log for how the operation of the property should proceed.
Compliance with Legislation: The designer must ensure that the project complies with applicable working environment laws and standards.
It is important that the designer takes responsibility for the working environment from the start of the project to prevent problems and create a safe workplace for everyone involved.
Safety Coordinator
The role of the Safety Coordinator, both in construction (B) and planning (P), is crucial for ensuring a safe working environment. Here is an overview of their responsibilities in both contexts:
Safety Coordinator B (Construction)
Coordination of Safety: The Safety Coordinator is responsible for coordinating safety measures on the construction site. This includes ensuring that all parties involved comply with safety regulations.
Development of Safety Plans: They must develop and implement safety plans that outline procedures and measures to minimize risks on the construction site.
Hazard Identification: The Safety Coordinator should identify potential hazards and risks that may arise during the construction process and propose solutions to address them.
Training and Information: They are responsible for ensuring that all employees and subcontractors are informed about safety procedures and receive the necessary training.
Supervision and Follow-Up: The Safety Coordinator must supervise the safety measures on site and follow up on any issues that arise.
Safety Coordinator P (Planning)
Integration of Safety in Design: During the planning phase, the Safety Coordinator must ensure that the working environment and safety are integrated into the project design.
Risk Assessment: They should perform risk assessments to identify potential safety issues before construction begins.
Collaboration with Designers: The Safety Coordinator must work closely with the designers to ensure that safety aspects are considered in all phases of planning.
Development of Safety Strategies: They need to develop strategies to manage safety risks and ensure that these strategies are documented and implemented.
Compliance with Legislation: The Safety Coordinator must ensure that the project complies with all relevant laws and regulations regarding workplace safety and health.
Contractor:
Compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Legislation: The contractor is responsible for ensuring that the work is carried out in accordance with occupational health and safety regulations.
Implementation of Safety Measures: The contractor must implement safety measures and ensure that their employees are properly trained in safety procedures.
Safety Representatives:
Promoting a Safe Working Environment: In many companies, designated safety representatives work to promote a safe working environment and represent employees’ interests in health and safety matters.
Workplace Inspection Authority (Arbejdstilsynet):
Oversight of Occupational Health and Safety: The Danish Workplace Inspection Authority (Arbejdstilsynet) is responsible for overseeing occupational health and safety. They have the authority to check if companies comply with regulations and can issue orders or fines for violations.
Employees:
Compliance with Safety Procedures: Employees also have a responsibility to follow safety procedures and report any hazards and risks in the working environment.
It is crucial that all parties collaborate to ensure a good and safe working environment in construction projects.
Buildability
Buildability refers to the feasibility and practicality of implementing a building or construction project. It involves assessing whether the planned project can be executed effectively, safely, and economically.
Buildability can be particularly challenging in renovation projects, where the integration of new building elements may be complicated by both the existing building’s geometric conditions and space constraints on the construction site. It is crucial to ensure that the designed tolerances are adequate.
Quality in construction requires buildable, robust, and tested solutions that have been thoroughly developed in the project material, ensuring that the execution is feasible.
Key Aspects of Buildability:
Design and Planning
Practical and Realistic Execution: Buildability assesses whether the designed project is practical and feasible to execute. This includes considering materials, techniques, and construction processes that can be applied.
Simple, Robust, and Buildable Solutions: Opt for simple, robust, and buildable solutions with technical redundancy.
Designed Tolerances with “Buffer”: Designed tolerances should include a certain “buffer” to be buildable. This buffer is achieved by ensuring sufficient tolerances between building components and trades. There must be room to accommodate inaccuracies and the necessary degree of flexibility to execute the work on a construction site and in open air.
Technical Aspects
Feasible Technical Solutions: Ensure that the chosen technical solutions are feasible and can be implemented without major issues. This includes structural, mechanical, and electrical systems.
Resources
Availability of Resources: Buildability also involves evaluating the availability of necessary resources such as materials, labor, and equipment. If resources are not available, it can affect the project’s feasibility.
Timeline
Adherence to Schedule: Assess whether the project can be completed within the specified timeframe. Buildability considers potential delays and the planning of construction activities.
Feasible Construction Site Logistics: Ensure that construction site logistics are feasible and practical.
Economics
Economic Analysis: Buildability may involve analyzing the economic aspects of the project, including budgeting and cost management. It is important to ensure that the project can be completed within the financial constraints and that technical solutions are not overly complex, as this may increase risks and costs.
Safety and Work Environment
Safe Construction Process: Assess whether the construction process can be performed safely and in compliance with applicable occupational health and safety regulations. It is crucial to consider safety measures to protect workers, users, and maintenance personnel.
Regulations and Legislation
Compliance with Building Codes: Buildability includes compliance with local building codes and regulations.
Buildability is thus an essential part of the planning and design process for construction projects. It helps identify potential issues early in the process and ensures that the project can be executed efficiently and safely.
Our Experience with Occupational Health & Safety and Buildability
We are trained in:
- Occupational Health & Safety Training: Mandatory training under Section 9 for occupational health and safety representatives.
- Occupational Health & Safety Coordinator in Design (P):
- Occupational Health & Safety Coordinator in Construction (B):
- Various Occupational Health & Safety Courses
We possess expertise spanning the design phase, the construction period and the subsequent operational phase on both small- and large-scale projects.
- Earthworks, excavation, site preparation soil stabilization ect.
- Sewerage and drain
- Concrete
- Shell Construction
- Bricklaying
- Carpentry & Joinery
- Plumbing & Welding
- Metalwork
- Demolition
- Developers
- Clients
- Technical Consultants
- Contractors (including total, main, and specialized contractors)
Our experience ensures that we provide buildable solutions, while also focusing on integrating occupational health and safety measures and construction site logistics. We adapt these elements throughout the project processes to ensure practical implementation.
We recommend:
Constructive Integration of Occupational Health & Safety: Make occupational health and safety a fundamental part of the strategy to achieve robust and proven solutions, documented in a clear and comprehensive manner for the entire construction project.
Collaborative Contributions: All parties should contribute to:
- Compliance with Occupational Health & Safety Regulations: Ensure adherence to occupational health and safety rules and leverage collective experience to enhance chosen solutions for managing health and safety processes.
- Buildable and Robust Solutions: Identify and implement feasible and durable solutions.
- Feasible Construction Site Logistics: Ensure that construction site logistics are viable both during project execution and in the subsequent operational phase.