Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University
The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering

Research Highlight: Denny Davis & Howard Davis

Engineering Education

Prevention through Design Modules

These educational modules were developed by Dr. Denny Davis and Dr. Howard Davis.

This 3-part series:

  1. presents motivation and principles for Prevention through Design,
  2. examines student projects for opportunities to apply Prevention through Design, and
  3. implements methods to achieve accident prevention through design.

Module 1: Concepts and Cases

This module presents safe design considerations pertaining to Biomedical and Bioengineering Design. We present principles of Prevention through Design and give illustrations of common chemical, biological, mechanical, and electrical hazards in bioengineering workplaces. We address the motivations for safe design and present ways to design hazards out of bioengineering.

This education module is intended to facilitate incorporation of the Prevention through Design (PtD) concept into one or more design courses. Lesson 1 is appropriate for an introductory design course, while lessons 2 and 3 are most appropriate in the context of a major (e.g., capstone) design course. The latter two lessons cause students to see application of Prevention through Design principles in the context of many different types of design projects and to apply these principles to a design project in which they have high investment.

It is anticipated that instructors will supplement the information presented in this module and may assign projects, class presentations or homework as time permits. Sections may be presented independent of the whole. Presentation times are approximate, based on our presentation experience.

Module 2: Assessing Risks in Projects

This module explores the opportunities for safe design methods to be applied to a broad set of Biomedical and Bioengineering design projects. We see how Prevention through Design methods may be employed systematically in projects that might present chemical, biological, mechanical, or electrical hazards in bioengineering workplaces. We explore ways to identify the highest risk hazards and discuss ways to mitigate the identified risks in projects of the types addressed in senior design classes.

Module 3: Implementation in Projects

This module explores the opportunities for safe design methods to be applied to a broad set of Biomedical and Bioengineering Design projects. We see how Prevention through Design methods may be employed systematically in projects that might have chemical, biological, mechanical, or electrical hazards in bioengineering workplaces. We identify ways to identify the highest risk hazards and discuss ways to mitigate the identified risks in multiple projects of the types addressed in senior design classes.

To report problems or to make suggestions, please contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at:

Telephone: (513)533–8304
E-mail: preventionthroughdesign@cdc.gov

Highlighted Research

Prevention through Design