Prevention through Design Upside Down: A Practical Introduction

The overall safety performance of the construction industry remains a concern. Prevention through Design (PtD) helps prevent occupational injuries and fatalities by engineering out safety and health hazards during the project design phase. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has encouraged construction project stakeholders to implement PtD for the last two decades. However, implementation is still limited in the United States. Several factors hinder the implementation of PtD among construction project stakeholders in the United States. The lack of awareness and knowledge regarding PtD among construction stakeholders, lack of related laws and regulations, and designers’ fear of liability are among the factors. This study aims to introduce a strategy to overcome the current obstacles that impede the implementation of PtD. The suggested strategy urges construction professionals to inform project designers/engineers of any possible safety enhancements that demand modification in the design. As a result, this study helps promote designing for safety in the construction industry, which can minimize project delays, cost overruns, and injuries.