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Safety by Design on National Highways Toolbox Talk: Embedding Safety from Project Inception
The Safety by Design on National Highways Toolbox Talk provides critical guidance on integrating safety principles into the design, planning, and execution of highways projects. Developed in line with Raising the Bar 26 (RTB26), this document aligns with UK health and safety regulations, including the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) and HSE best practices for risk management in design. It supports businesses in proactively addressing potential hazards and minimising safety risks through careful, safety-focused design decisions.
Designing for safety is a fundamental aspect of modern highways construction and maintenance. Hazards that are designed out at the planning stage significantly reduce on-site risks and improve long-term operational safety. This toolbox talk covers key safety design principles such as:
The document emphasises the legal responsibilities of designers, contractors, and employers under the CDM Regulations to consider health and safety throughout the project lifecycle—from concept to completion and ongoing maintenance. It also addresses the importance of collaborative design reviews, where designers, engineers, and safety professionals work together to evaluate potential risks and develop safer alternatives.
In line with Raising the Bar 26, the toolbox talk highlights the benefits of incorporating safety innovations like crash-friendly road furniture, pre-fabricated components to reduce site handling, and intelligent traffic management systems. Workers are encouraged to report design issues during construction and to participate in post-project safety evaluations to inform future designs.
Simplifying Toolbox Talk Creation with Our Online Generator
Our online document generator makes it easy to create customised toolbox talks like this one. By entering your project-specific details, you can generate a professional, compliant document in minutes—helping your business maintain consistent, high-quality safety communication across all highways projects.
Useful Resources and Links
Traffic Signs Manual – Chapter 8: Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual
Safety at Street Works and Road Works (The Red Book):
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-at-street-works-and-road-works
HSE Guidance on CDM Regulations and Safe Design:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm
