Prevention Through Design Given LEED Pilot Credit

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U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and NIOSH have worked to recognize builders who design with safety in mind, in particular, the concept of prevention through design (PTD). This effort has been recognized as well, as a LEED pilot credit has been given for PTD, which can be applied toward a Silver, Gold or Platinum LEED designation.

According to USGBC’s website, the intent of the credit is to “support high-performance cost-effective employee safety and health outcomes across the building life-cycle through early attention to safety and health hazards.” Requirements for the credit state that PTD must begin in the predesign stage and continue throughout the design stages, identifying and using opportunities to achieve safety and health together across disciplines, particularly across operations and maintenance, and construction.

The USGBC website provides detailed information as to how to assess systems and implement PTD practices throughout operations and maintenance and construction stages. It also provides links to download the PTD design process worksheet and to join the LEED user pilot credit forum.