NIOSH Toolkit Aims to Help Construction Industry "Design Out" Hazards

A new toolkit published this month by NIOSH is intended to help construction companies and contractors design work to remove significant hazards for construction workers. The “Prevention through Design Toolkit for the Construction Industry” focuses on preventing falls, reducing struck-by incidents in highway work zones and during building construction, and eliminating hazards in residential construction. NIOSH’s Prevention through Design (PtD) initiative promotes the concept of “designing out” or minimizing hazards and risks to prevent and control occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. According to the agency, PtD “is the most reliable and effective way to protect workers.”

The toolkit includes tables that are intended to be used during the planning and design phase of projects to help architects, design engineers, and resident engineers who work with construction teams identify and eliminate potential hazards. Companies, contractors, and others can improve PtD application and certainty in the scope of work when relevant controls are included as part of construction bids and contracts, NIOSH explains.

The toolkit is available for download from NIOSH’s website.

NIOSH partners with AIHA, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and the National Safety Council to present the annual PtD Award, which recognizes individuals, teams, businesses, and other organizations that have eliminated or reduced hazards through design or redesign efforts or have contributed to the body of knowledge that enables PtD solutions. The 2024 award was presented at AIHA Connect in Columbus, Ohio, in May.

Related: Read “Thinking Outside the Confined Space Box: Application of Prevention through Design Principles to Confined Spaces” in the digital Synergist.