Healthcare and in general - What is the designer's duty of care?

3. Let’s look at Compliance with
legislation.
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA WE ARE USING THE CODE OF PRACTICE –
SAFE DESIGN OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES 2008.
• IDENTIFY HAZARDS THROUGHOUT THE LIFECYCLE OF THE
BUILDING (USING CHECKLISTS)
• ASSESSING RISK OF INJURIES OR HARM – CONSIDERING THE
LIKELIHOOD AND CONSEQUENCES OF RISK.
• CONTROLLING THE RISK BY IMPLEMENTING CONTROL
MEASURES.
Designers are also required to submit a report to the client in writing on
safety and health aspects of the design.

4. But what is the specifics for Health Care?

5. Trough studies in America it was found that facility
design can have a direct impact on the following:
• Patient and staff satisfaction, especially when single-bed rooms are designed. It enhances
patient safety and creates a healthier environments for both patients, staff and visitors - by
minimizing falls, infections and medical errors.
• A patient’s stress experience, it showed an reduction in environmental stressors associated with
noise and inefficient room layouts especially when the use of nature, colour, light, and sound is
included in the design thought process.

6. Published in The Wall Street
Journal 2013 – The Hospital
Room of the Future. Barbara
Sadick

7. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING – FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON DESIGNER’S DUTY OF CARE.
Visual Art – this slide: Linda van Rensburg.