Abstract
Designer's role on health and safety (H&S) performance improvement is a subject that has received much attention than any other aspect relative to the designer. However, much research has been on the incorporation of H&S in designs and how designers influence H&S. There is little research on the designer's will and capacity to contribute to H&S performance improvement especially in Southern Africa and Botswana in particular. This paper seeks therefore to highlight this aspect as a way of addressing one of the barriers to H&S performance improvement. The purpose of this paper is to present findings of a small pilot study conducted among construction designers to establish their will or motivation and capacity to contribute to construction H&S in Botswana. A questionnaire survey was conducted among construction designers to establish willingness and capacity to incorporate H&S in their designs. Findings on the will to contribute to H&S, relate to designers incorporating H&S in their designs, external influence to consider H&S and mandate from the client to consider H&S are presented. Designers' capacity relate to education and training and their experience on matters relating to H&S. The pilot study indicates an inadequate level of will and capacity for designers to consider H&S in their designs. A better H&S performance improvement can only be achieved with the designer's active participation. Results from the survey on designers' will and capacity highlight the importance of considering this aspect of designers. Designers' will and capacity is inadequate and it shows in their inconsideration of H&S in current designs. A proposal is made to look at ways to improve designers' capacity as well as ways to motivate them to consider H&S.