Risk assessments in Design Projects
When planning your Design Project, it is important to consider health and safety of manufacturing and using the product.
As a designer, you have a responsibility to work in a safe way so as to not harm yourself or others. In addition, the final product you produce should not cause harm to other people in its use.
Risk assessment involves many factors, and can seem quite complex. Fortunately there are numerous resources to help guide you. While some health and safety guidance seems obvious (wear safety glasses when using a power saw), others can seem quite complex (the fumes or dust produced by certain machines).
When working on your DP Design Project, you need to show that you have conducted a risk assessment for the relevant steps in your project. In your production plan, you can refer to any safety measures you need to take (wearing safety glasses, using ventilation, having a technician cut the material, etc.)
Risk assessment about Materials and Processes
In the Design Studio, we use a variety of materials. To find out about the risks associated with a certain material, you can refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). We keep MSDS on all materials used in the studio.
You can access them online through the department portal.
Risk assessment of use of your product
Well-researched aspects of the relevant human factors and ergonomics for your design will ensure you produce a safe product.
To avoid harming your user, your design should be well thought out and carefully planned and tested. Carefully review the section on human factors and ergonomics to ensure you are designing safely