The obligation
Designers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure their design eliminates or minimises health and safety risks during the construction, use, maintenance, and demolition of the structure.
Under the Code (supported by WHS Act 2020 s22 and WHS (General) Regulations 2022), designers of structures must identify foreseeable hazards, assess risks and apply the hierarchy of controls as early as possible in the design process. This obligation extends across the full lifecycle: construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, alteration, and demolition. Designers must also provide adequate information to those who will use the structure about residual risks.
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- What
- Designers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure their design eliminates or minimises health and safety risks during the construction, use, maintenance, and demolition of the structure.
- Source
- worksafe.wa.gov.au
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designer duty
hierarchy of controls
risk assessment
lifecycle
WHS Act 2020
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Frequently asked questions
Which WHS law does this come from?
Designer duty: eliminate or minimise risks across structure lifecycle is a WHS requirement set out in Safe design of structures (WA). It is made under Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA). The relevant provision is Work Health & Safety > Safe Design > Structures.
What does this WHS obligation require?
Designer duty: eliminate or minimise risks across structure lifecycle is a WHS obligation under Safe design of structures (WA). In short, Designers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure their design eliminates or minimises health and safety risks during the construction, use, maintenance, and demolition of the structure.
What changed recently?
Designer duty: eliminate or minimise risks across structure lifecycle was last updated on 25 August 2026.
