When is a project supervisor for the design process (PSDP) required?
In this article, Sweco Ireland’s Michael Duffy explores the critical role of the Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP) within the Irish construction industry. He outlines the legal requirements for appointing a PSDP – emphasising the importance of early involvement to ensure safety and health considerations are integrated into the design from the outset, and highlighting the responsibilities of the PSDP with the potential risks associated with delayed appointments.
Introduction
In Ireland, the appointment of a Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP) is mandated by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 for certain construction projects. A PSDP is required when a project is expected to last longer than 30 working days, involve more than 500 person-days of work, or present specific risks, regardless of the duration or person-days involved.
To ensure effective management of safety and health issues from the outset, it is essential to appoint the PSDP before the design work begins. This proactive approach helps in addressing and coordinating safety matters early in the project lifecycle.
What are the legal requirements?
If construction work on a project is planned to last longer than 30 working days or exceed 500 person-days, if there is more than one contractor involved or involves “Particular Risks”.
Under “Regulation 6 (3 a)” of the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations:
6.(3) A client shall appoint the project supervisor–
(a) for the design process at or before the start of the design process.
Early appointments should be made to ensure that the safety and health implications of design decisions taken at the earliest stages of a project are considered.
The PSDP can bring about the greatest reduction in risk at the concept and scheme design phases. As the scheme moves further into the detailed design phase, it becomes more difficult to make fundamental changes that eliminate hazards and reduce resulting risks.
The PSDP must be appointed at or before the start of design work to enable them to:
- Advise Clients on the competence and resources of their appointees;
- Assist the design team to risk assess design decisions and fully address significant safety and health issues;
- Enable the development of an adequate Preliminary Safety and Health Plan; and
- Enable the Safety File to be produced in a user-friendly format suitable for future use.
Equally an early appointment of the Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS Main Contractor), where feasible, will enable them to contribute to the design process and gives the PSCS time to develop the Safety and Health Plan.
For clarity, let us consider…
Who is a “Client”?
A Client is a person for whom a project is undertaken and who has effective control over the appointed of the Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP).
In reality clients begin the design process when they see a site with potential and visualise what developments they think will suit the site and return a profit.
I have worked directly for clients and most do not realise there is a requirement to appoint a PSDP at the very beginning of the design process which is usually when the client appoints a designer.
Clients generally appoint a PSDP long after the design process has commenced and may even be complete. This immediately puts the appointed PSDP and the Client at a disadvantage as health and safety may not have been fully considered before the project is put out to tender.
Clients need to exercise caution when making appointments, a “Competency Assessment” should be made before appointing a competent and adequately resourced PSDP in writing.
Poor management of the design process by clients has the potential to contributes to the primary causes of deaths, injuries, and illness in the construction industry.
Early appointment of a competent PSDP at the design stage will help ensure good co-ordination of activities and co-operation between all parties during design process and will have significant potential to reduce the level of risks involved in construction, use, maintenance and final disposal of projects.
