Several sections in the OSHA 1926 standards require engineering controls in construction projects. Engineering design safety demands the incorporation of these controls.
To properly engineer for safety, there needs to be a new level of communication and understanding between engineers and safety professionals. There is need for an awareness of the
positive influence safety professionals can have on the design process if they are involved from the very beginning of the process.

In contrast to other types of controls, which often centre their attention on the employee who is put in danger by the hazard, these controls centre their
attention on the danger itself. The fundamental idea behind engineering controls is that, to the greatest extent that is practically possible, the working environment and the task
itself should be designed to either completely remove dangers or significantly
lessen their exposure. Even though this method is described as engineering control, it does not imply that an engineer is needed to complete the task.