CROSS Safety Alert
Hazard identification for structural design
Overview
At the outset of the design, it is recommended that the structural engineer should document the proposed structural design philosophy and the approach to design against disproportionate collapse and agree this with the client.
The identification of the hazards is often best done through a hazard identification and risk assessment workshop.
People make mistakes, take short-cuts, are put in a role they are not qualified to undertake, fail to carry out effective checks, fail to ensure they are understood, fail to understand what others have done, and fail to ensure design interfaces are defined and controlled. Complacency, lack of knowledge, programme and commercial pressures all play their part in generating hazards.
Note: this Safety Alert was published by SCOSS (Standing Committee on Structural Safety). Since March 2021, SCOSS is integrated under the name Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS).
Who should read this?
Those involved in identifying and managing hazards associated with a structural design, including asset owners, Principal Designers, designers (permanent and temporary works), civil and structural engineers, Principal Contractors and contractors.
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