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The lack of prevention through design (PtD) education in higher education institutions has long been recognised in construction literature. Despite the fact that some of the institutions have embedded PtD education in their curricula, it is often not addressed in engineering curricula in higher education institutions in developing countries, such as Malaysia. Due to the recent introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Industry (Management) [OSHCI(M)] guideline, which is based on the PtD concept, the need to incorporate the PtD concept and skills in engineering programs is crucial, as part of early safety education for future engineers. In order to address this gap in the body of knowledge, this study aims to investigate the current state of safety education in general and PtD in specific, in order to understand the extent the subject has been covered within the curricula of civil engineering programs in Malaysian higher educational institutions. A qualitative research methodology via case studies of seven public universities was adopted. The findings indicated that not only is the level of PtD education in civil engineering programs almost nonexistent, but the occupational health and safety (OHS) education itself was only covered to a certain extent. This significant gap has led to recommendations including the need for institutional dynamism in the context of incorporating OHS subjects, interactive OHS teaching and learning, technology-driven education, and the improving the competency of OHS lecturers. This study could act as a reference for the industry, accreditation bodies, and educational institutions to understand the status quo of PtD education for future engineers towards OSHCI(M) implementation. The findings also extend the knowledge of PtD education in construction literature, subsequently providing insights for wider incorporation of PtD in civil engineering programs.

The impact of Prevention through Design (PtD) practises in improving OSH in the construction sector has been recognised by scholars and industry practitioners. Even though there is now a significant body of PtD literature, the context of profiling the designers' PtD competence in developing countries, such as Malaysia, remains elusive. Due to the recent implementation of PtD-based guideline in Malaysia, the Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Industry (Management) (OSHCI(M)), the need to recognise the characteristics of a competent designer in fulfilling OSHCI(M) requirements is important and timely. To address this gap, a two-pronged research approach was adopted. First, 135 practitioners were selected using purposive sampling to participate in the questionnaire survey. This is followed by discussions with practitioners who have experiences in OSHCI(M) projects, to further validate the survey findings. The findings highlight that the top five important PtD competency attributes were knowledge-based attributes i.e. (construction, design feature, risk and hazard, management concepts and legislative framework). Meanwhile, design and construction experience, hazard-related and collaboration skills were also significant for PtD competency. The findings also indicate that continuous efforts related to collaborative contractual arrangement, early education, professional training and institutional pressure are needed to bridge the designers' priori and experiential knowledge and skills, where the new normal of OSH practice is required to address the required OSHCI(M) duties. This study extends the current PtD literature in terms of providing a new perspective on designers' PtD competence in the field of construction, from the context of developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Megaprojects are typically very expensive public-centred projects that leave little space for any mismanagement or deficient planning, which could affect the project adversely. The Last Planner™ System (LPS) is a lean construction planning and control tool that functions to reduce waste and increase performance. Given the benefits, the application of the LPS in megaprojects is still scarce, especially in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to compare the current production planning, monitoring and review practices in a megaproject with the LPS in order to explore the possibilities of adapting the LPS to the current practices. Design/methodology/approach: This longitudinal case-based study has first explored the current practices implemented in an infrastructure megaproject, which is an urban rapid transit (URT) project, which was then compared to the standard LPS practices. The case study has adopted several research methods such as observation, interview and document review. Findings: Findings from the study highlight that the current production planning, monitoring and review practices in the URT project mostly differs from the standard LPS practices with only slight similarities found in the major planning phases. The comparative study, which based on five reference points through master, phase, look-ahead, weekly work plan and measure, and learning has resulted in several key elements, representative of the different planning phases, such as collaborative programming, reverse planning, reliability, dependability and continuous learning. Practical implications: This study provides an alternative perspective to rail planners, as well as other types of project planners in considering the use of the LPS to enhance the quality of planning, monitoring and review in projects. The framework that highlights the core values and key elements for the related planning phases enables project teams with no lean background to partially adapt their current practices to the LPS with minimal disruption. Originality/value: This study first contributes to the body of knowledge, where limited study was found comparing and contrasting current production planning practices against the LPS, particularly in rail-based megaproject. The results from the comparison are the key elements representing each of the planning phases that was rooted back to the core values (teamwork, involvement and collaboration, communication and transparency, and continuous improvement) necessary to enhance the current practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the diversity of thinking among the scholars on building information modelling (BIM) collaboration, there is a paucity of studies that capture the dimension of social collaboration in BIM projects. This study attempts to develop a comprehensive understanding on the key attributes of multi-actor social collaboration in BIM projects through the experience of practitioners in BIM-Level 2 construction project. The success of multi-actor social collaboration has been investigated through structured interviews with 22 BIM practitioners in a BIM-Level 2 project based on an established theoretical framework of social collaboration. The findings indicted that relationship-oriented attributes; relational contracts BIM execution plan; guideline, standard and work process manual approaches; employer information requirement (EIR); understanding roles and leadership; commitment from top management; resources; training, team building workshop and awareness program; coordination; and understanding on the theoretical knowledge of BIM are of importance towards multi-actor social BIM collaboration. This study acknowledges that the success of multi-actor social collaboration was influenced by the consolidation of many attributes, and it extends the dominant relationship between related attributes for multi-actor social collaboration based on the "best practice approach", which includes dominant-centric attributes (i.e., behaviour formation, procurement model and support principles). This research contributes to the body of BIM knowledge in the construction domain by focusing on what it takes to achieve greater social collaboration in BIM Level 2 projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction literature in past decades has reflected a steadily increasing interest in the assessment of organizational integration practices. This interest has led to the development of a multi-organizational team integration performance index based on five weighted key determinants (KDs) for Malaysian construction projects as follows: commitment from top management; team leadership; focus on goals and objectives; communication; and trust and respect. In order to advance the index into a full working model, this paper aims to identify the appropriate leading and lagging quantitative measures (QMs) based on their importance, measurability, and obtainability to evaluate the five KDs. A two-fold research approach was adopted; first, structured face-to-face interviews with eight practitioners were conducted to identify the candidate QMs; followed by two rounds of a rating-type Delphi survey with 18 experts to rate the candidate QMs. The findings indicate that the recommended leading QMs were influenced by the output-oriented measures, while lagging QMs were framed within the scale-oriented measures, depending on the characteristic of the KDs. The establishment of these measures advance the existing index for a quantitative-based assessment of multi-organization performance. The present study adds to the construction literature by enhancing the learning of measuring organizational performance in the Malaysian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Prevention through Design (PtD) has received increasing attention in various countries, as part of the effort to enhance the safety of construction works. In Malaysia, the Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Industry (Management) (OSHCI(M)) guideline, which is based on the PtD concept, was introduced in 2017 to transform the safety practices in the construction industry. Due to the recent introduction to OSHCI(M), this study aims to explore the PtD knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) among Civil & Structural (C&S) engineers towards OSHCI(M) implementation. Data were collected from 49 C&S engineers in Malaysia using a KAP questionnaire and discussion forum based on three series of workshops. Results from the forum sessions were then collated into a framework and illustrated using a dynamic approach called Causal Loop Diagram (CLD). The findings revealed that the current state of C&S engineers' knowledge still requires improvement, particularly on the PtD principles. The practices of PtD were mostly work-in-progress, but the majority of them have been very supportive on the implementation of PtD. Three recommendations for improving the PtD implementation were proposed: the external forces, industry dynamics and operational organisation factors. The relationship demonstrated in the CLD shows that the reliance on external forces will be reduced with the increase in industry dynamics that coherently enhances also the operational organisation towards PtD. This study extends the PtD literature in construction context as well as provides the status quo on the appreciation of PtD in the local context towards total implementation of OSHCI(M). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The level of PtD competence among the designers in Malaysia, South Africa and Nigeria are investigated. • PtD awareness and types of organisations had mixed associations with the PtD competence. • Competence level in the three domains were far from advanced, particularly in skill and experience. • Focus on advancing the cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor aspects in the three main domains of PtD competence. Prevention through Design (PtD) remains one of the practices for resolving occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges in the construction industry. Accordingly, possessing relevant attributes of competence in PtD practice will enable designers to contribute towards improved OSH performance. However, studies undertaken to explore the level of PtD competence possessed by designers in developing countries remain at an embryonic level. Based on previous studies, attributes of PtD competence were identified in three main domains: knowledge, skills and experience. Adopting these attributes, a gap analysis of the level of PtD competence of designers was examined using the Malaysian, South African and Nigerian construction industries. Relying on a case-study survey research design, online questionnaires were used to gather data from 177 designers serving as respondents in the three countries. The results indicated that the attributes of competence in the three domains were far from advanced, particularly in skill and experience. More attention needs to be given to advancing the cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor aspects of these attributes through theoretical and practical learning initiatives before progress can be made towards achieving substantial diffusion of PtD practice. This study was the first attempt to assess designers' PtD competence in developing countries. The findings of this study have salient implications for enhancing the implementation of PtD in pre- and continuing education in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Knowledge, attitude and practices of design for safety (DfS) among academics and practitioners in Malaysia are investigated. • There are similarities and differences of perceptions about DfS between the academics and practitioners. • Culture, engagement and organizational lifelong are critical for DfS learning. • Funding, early learning, capacity building and guidance influence DfS effectiveness. Design for safety (DfS) is increasingly gaining relevance in improving construction occupational safety and health. Specifically, Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Industry (Management) (OSHCI(M)) guidelines were established in Malaysia to improve DfS practices. Therefore, the need to gauge the DfS knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of construction stakeholders is significant. The objective of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to investigate the DfS KAP between the academics and practitioners. Secondly, to recommend the mechanisms for improving the learning of DfS among the key stakeholders. This study used a KAP survey and a discussion forum from five DfS workshops, followed by the development of framework using a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD). The findings revealed that stakeholders are very positive towards DfS implementation. Creating a culture of shared DfS learning, continuous engagement in education and training, and organisational lifelong DfS learning were highlighted as ways to improve DfS learning. The CLD shows that the effectiveness of DfS learning is attributed to funding, early learning, capacity building, and practical DfS guidance. This study helps advance DfS learning towards improving the KAP of construction professionals, hence facilitating DfS diffusion within and beyond the organisation and construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of green buildings has been able to draw considerable interest from society to achieve sustainable solutions. However, there is limited understanding of how green buildings affect behavioural change of industry towards green practices in developing countries such as Malaysia. As part of an intervention strategy to improve green practices in Malaysia, this study aims to investigate the behaviours and practices of industry and recommends strategies to improve the greening practices of building industries. The study was conducted using an explanatory sequential mixed method of six case studies for green and conventional buildings, 54 building stakeholders responded to a cross-sectional survey questionnaire and seven experts were purposefully interviewed to enable the triangulation of information. The findings show that knowledge of industry on green building implementation in terms of familiarity, awareness and perception is varies depending on their roles, expertise and the level of involvement in green practices. This paper demonstrates that the long-term economic benefits and government policies will be effective motivators towards encouraging behavioural change and organizational commitment to green practices, while perceived high costs are the greatest barrier to the implementation of green practices. In addition, a top-down-bottom-up strategic green building development framework is established based on the collating inputs of internal and external synergy approaches towards conceptualization of green building enhancement in Malaysia. This study contributes to the current body of knowledge concerning the insights of current industry behaviour and practices towards green approach in developing countries by evaluating green practices from several stakeholders' perspectives. • Practitioners' roles and expertise influence green building implementation. • Motivation, attitudes, values, culture and commitment are the internal drivers. • Government initiatives, promotions and regulation tools are the external drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]