It always seemed to me that preventing an accident is much more effective than trying to fix a situation after an accident has happened. In the course of correcting an accident, further injuries could occur and frustration levels would rise. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is working on a National Initiative entitled Prevention through Design (PtD). They held a workshop in July 2007, and have worked up a draft of the plan that is available for public comment. Facility Safety Management Online issued an editorial describing the plan “NIOSH Issues a Draft of ‘Prevention through Design Plan’ Initiative”.

The plan discusses worker health and workplace safety throughout every area of design, redesign and retrofit. It has come up with ideas to help save lives and prevent accidents before they occur. PtD aims at eliminating risks and hazards by looking at a workplace throughout construction, use, and maintenance. All aspects of a facility should be examined from the safety flooring to the entrances and exits. I am curious if this is going to become a mandatory part of courses offered at colleges and specialized schools throughout the nation? It seems to me that the best place to put these ideas into practice would be to train all future architects, engineers and designers using the standards from the Prevention through Design plan.

You can review and comment on the plan at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/160/. NIOSH is hoping stakeholders will review the plan and offer any opinions on the goals and activities mentioned.

If you know a lot about safety and have good ideas on how to keep workers from getting hurt, this seems like a great opportunity to help out on a National level.

SlipNOT® Metal Safety Flooring also offers an AIA course entitled “Smart Safety Design to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls”. The course provides information on slip and fall accidents in the work place and how to prevent them. Participants learn about different non slip flooring options and are able to have a hands-on example of specific products. This course provides one LU and falls within the HSW (Health Safety and Welfare) category.

“NIOSH Issues a Draft of ‘Prevention through Design Plan’ Initiative.” Facility Safety Management Magazine. June 2009

Filed under: Workplace Safety by Beth Faraci