Design for Safety Professional Services
The practical scope of work a Design for Safety Professional (DfSP) typically performs when appointed by a Developer in Singapore, based on the roles and responsibilities set out in Singapore's WSH (Design for Safety) framework and industry reference material.
A DfSP's core job is to organise and run the design-risk review process, keep the record of what was found and decided, and make sure residual risks are communicated — not to redesign the building or manage site safety.
What the DfSP does
The following activities reflect the scope commonly specified for a DfS Professional engagement, drawing on the roles and responsibilities described in the WSH Council's Design for Safety guidance and the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) Proforma for Engagement of a Design for Safety Professional. The final scope for any engagement should be agreed and documented project by project — see the note below.
Project commencement briefing
Briefing the project team at the start of each GUIDE stage on DfS principles, methodology, roles and responsibilities, and the timing of review meetings.
Planning & convening DfS reviews
Organising DfS review meetings at concept, detailed design and pre-construction stages, and determining when follow-up reviews are needed.
Facilitation across the design team
Facilitating discussion among the Developer, permanent works designers, specialist designers, temporary works designers and the Contractor (and subcontractors where relevant).
Hazard identification & design-risk discussion
Guiding the team to systematically identify foreseeable design risks and consider people affected during construction, use, maintenance, cleaning and eventual demolition.
Design Risk Records
Coordinating the preparation of Design Risk Records that transfer identified hazards from review discussion into a documented, trackable form.
Meeting minutes & review notes
Compiling minutes or notes of DfS review meetings so decisions and rationale are captured, not just outcomes.
DfS Register
Establishing and maintaining the DfS Register, and recording residual design risks clearly within it. More on the Register →
Monitoring outstanding actions
Tracking the status of action items in the Design Risk Record and calling follow-up reviews to close out identified hazards.
Communication of risks & controls
Issuing the Register to the Developer, Designers and Contractor so people facing a risk are aware of it and of any available control measures.
Updating the Developer
Keeping the Developer informed of matters arising from DfS review meetings, where appropriate.
Availability for lawful inspection
Making the DfS Register available for inspection if requested by an appointed Workplace Safety and Health Inspector during the project.
Handover at completion
Handing over the up-to-date DfS Register to the Developer at project completion, i.e. on grant of the Temporary Occupation Permit.
In addition, the DfSP typically provides general advice to the Developer, Designers and Contractor on matters relating to Design for Safety throughout the engagement.
What the DfSP does not do
Within scope
- Facilitating and organising the DfS review process
- Maintaining the DfS Register and associated records
- Tracking design-risk actions to closure
- Communicating residual design risks to the right people
- Advising on DfS process and documentation
Outside scope
- Producing or approving the architectural or engineering design itself
- Taking over a Contractor's construction methods or site execution
- Acting as the project's day-to-day workplace safety and health officer
- Preparing risk assessments or safe work procedures for site activities
- Providing PE design endorsement (a separate professional function)
For the avoidance of doubt, the DfS Professional is not responsible for, and is not directly involved in, safety and health at the construction site, and does not take over the responsibilities of Designers or Contractors. This reflects the professional boundary set out in reference material such as the IES Proforma for Engagement of a Design for Safety Professional.
Documents typically required
To scope and begin a DfSP engagement efficiently, we typically ask for:
- Project brief, architectural and structural drawings at the current design stage
- Confirmation of the project stage (concept, detailed design, pre-construction, or construction-stage change)
- Names and contact details of the Developer's representative, lead designers and main contractor (once appointed)
- Any existing DfS Register, Design Risk Records or prior review minutes, where the project is already underway
- Details of temporary works designers where temporary works form part of the current design stage
The activities above are not automatically included in every proposal. The final appointment, scope, fee and deliverables for a DfSP engagement are project-specific and should be confirmed in writing before work begins. Where a Developer requires additional duties beyond the standard scope, these should be listed separately in the appointment letter.
Get a project-specific DfSP scope and fee proposal
Send us the project stage, size and design team so we can confirm which of the above applies and issue a proposal.