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Published in:
2020 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
The Need for the Inclusion of Construction Health and Safety (H&S) in Architectural Education
Author : John Smallwood
Published in: Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
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Abstract
A disproportionate number of accidents occur in construction relative to other industries, the direct and indirect cost of which contributes to the cost of construction. Construction is a multi-stakeholder process and consequently all stakeholders, architectural designers included, influence the construction process.
Design influences and impacts on construction H&S directly and indirectly. Directly through concept design, selection of structural frame, detailed design, selection of cladding, and specification of materials. Indirectly through the selection of procurement system, related interventions such as prequalification, decision regarding project duration, and selection of contractor.
Therefore, architectural designers should be empowered to contribute to construction H&S. However, the need for such empowerment is amplified by legislation in certain countries, such as the OH&S Act and Construction Regulations in South Africa. Despite the influence and impact of architectural design on construction H&S and the evolution of legislation, traditionally South African architectural designers have perceived construction H&S to be the responsibility of the contractor.
This paper reports on two descriptive surveys conducted among architectural academics, and a range of built environment practitioners to evolve a framework for firstly, tertiary architectural, and then secondly, tertiary built environment construction H&S education at Universities and Universities of Technology in South Africa.
The findings of the literature and descriptive surveys amplify the need for the inclusion of construction H&S as a module, and the addressing of a range of construction H&S aspects, as opposed to merely legislation, relative to architectural programmes.