Occupational safety and health regulator readiness in the design phase: Views from Malaysia

Abstract

Accidents and fatalities in construction projects have heightened interest among scholars in addressing safety and health early in the design phase. Prevention through Design (PtD) practice has increased dramatically. In developing countries such as Malaysia, the introduction of Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Industry (Management) - (OSHCIM) in 2017 as a legislative framework to enhance PtD practice has recently gained attention. OSHCIM has been introduced in the past five years, but the lack of insight into the readiness of the key stakeholders, especially the regulator on the OSHCIM implementation, is significant. Therefore, this study investigates the enforcement personnel's readiness for OSHCIM implementation. A mixed method through questionnaires and interviews was adopted to capture the enforcement officer's perceptions of OSHCIM enforcement. Most enforcers have a positive attitude towards the OSHCIM even though they might not be familiar with the practice. It suggests that a set of expertise is primarily a relevant understanding of PtD at the early construction phase, and lessons learned from the previous accidents were required for the enforcer to succeed in the enforcement over time. The study findings provide invaluable information for regulatory bodies regarding the readiness of enforcers for safety and health throughout the project lifecycle.