Architectural perspectives on the prevention through design concept: navigating worldview of barriers, opportunities and implementation strategies

Purpose Architects must ensure safety and health in the built environment. This review seeks to emphasise the importance of Prevention through Design (PtD) in the context of occupational safety and health (OSH) concerns from the architectural perspective. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a systematic review of 29 peer-reviewed journal articles. The selected articles were analysed using qualitative software, ATLAS.ti 8, to conduct a thematic analysis. Findings The findings present the benefits of PtD, such as the viability of the approach, barriers, opportunities and implementation strategies in the future. Findings reveal that architectural design has the potential to mitigate accidents by examining opportunities and implementing design strategies. Research limitations/implications This study relies on knowledge synthesis and evidence analysis of peer-reviewed journals published between 2011 and 2024. The study does not offer empirical findings or may it represent perspectives published before and after the identified dates. Practical implications This review’s findings have practical implications for architects and serve as a centralised repository of knowledge, providing a comprehensive understanding of PtD. This emphasis on practicality for architects to incorporate safety and health in design. Social implications It provides a valuable resource for architects, aiding in the integration of safety and health through the practice of PtD for the entire life cycle of building projects, particularly during the end-user stage, which has the most extended lifespan. Originality/value This systematic literature review is a unique contribution to the field, designed to generate a shared understanding of the benefits and viability of PtD as an occupational safety and health (OSH) strategy.