Identifying and reducing the risks

A designer needs to consider the following aspects of health and safety when designing:

• safety during the making of the product
• safety of the finished product when it is used
• safety of the finished product when disposed of after use

If there is any likelihood of someone being harmed through the making, use or disposal of the product, then you should consider re-designing it.

Safety during the making of the product

A laboratory

To ensure safety during making, a designer needs to consider the following:

• Will any of the materials specified cause harm to the maker?
• Will any of the processes to be used cause harm to the maker?
• Will any of the finishing techniques used cause harm to the maker?

Safety of the product when it is used

A safety belt

To ensure safety of the product when it is used, the designer needs to consider the following:

• Will the product be strong enough to support the loads involved?
• Are the materials suitable for the purpose? No adverse effect, toxic harmful etc.
• Are all hazards sufficiently guarded (electrical insulation, moving parts, folding components, etc)?

Safety of the finished product when disposed of after use

A rubbish tip

To ensure safety when a product is disposed of, a designer needs to consider the following:

• Can the component parts and different materials be dismantled without harm?
• Will dismantling result in the release of toxic or harmful substances?
• Will recycling materials, eg melting down, cause release of toxic or harmful substances?