Design risk management

In construction, we have a great deal of uncertainty in terms of risk. All risks have the potential to add delay, cost, objection and harm to a project.

It is often perceived that the approach to design risk management has not been covered particularly well. To remedy this, the Institution of Civil Engineers, along with the Health & Safety Expert Panel produced the Design Risk Management Guide.

This guide, through its simple and pragmatic approach, provides the reader with an understanding of how to discharge certain duties relating to the management of risk where projects fall within the remit of The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

It has been created as a go-to document to get quick and easy support and directs users to additional existing contemporary advice. It has been designed for those that design themselves, as well as those that manage design and the design process.

Through taking a pragmatic approach, the guide not only builds upon an organisation’s existing good engineering practice, it helps to provide a more holistic solution for all stakeholders.

This simple guide has been reviewed and updated for 2020, with contributions from members of ICE’s Health, Safety & Wellbeing (HSW) Expert Panel and its wider network.

Existing contemporary advice

Listed below is ICE’s recommended existing contemporary advice for designers, which its Health & Safety Expert Panel shall update at regular intervals:

• The Concrete Centre: Designing for safer concrete structures. Outlining how designers can make a difference
• Temporary Works Forum: The Role and Responsibilities of the Permanent Works Designer with regard to Temporary Works
• ICE Position Paper: Team approach to managing risks
• Ciria: CDM 2015 – construction work sector guidance for designers, 4^th Edition, C755
• CIRIA: Safer surfaces to walk on