Process Protocol for Prevention through Design (PTD) Implementation in Malaysian Construction Industry – A Concept Paper

The construction industry is among the most hazardous sectors globally, with high rates of accidents, fatalities, and occupational illnesses often stemming from unsafe workplaces, flawed design decisions, and fragmented procurement practices during the pre-construction phase. To address these risks, Malaysia’s Twelfth Malaysia Plan (2021–2025) introduced the Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024, emphasizing the integration of Prevention through Design (PtD) principles. The Regulations assign clear roles and responsibilities to stakeholders, including designers, contractors, and clients, to prioritize safety throughout the construction lifecycle. However, awareness and understanding of the PtD concept embedded in the Regulations remain limited due to the early stage of its enforcement, and research on PtD implementation under the CDM Regulations 2024 is scarce. This study explores current PtD practices in the construction industry, identifies legal requirements under the CDM Regulations 2024, and highlights issues arising from PtD implementation. A content analysis was conducted using a systematic literature review methodology guided by the PRISMA framework, analyzing 40 relevant articles. The findings reveal four main categories of PtD implementation issues: unresolved legal and contractual barriers, lack of awareness, procurement challenges, and industry culture. Subcategories include coordination, cost and time, liability, policy, lack of knowledge, fragmented procurement systems, and the inherent nature of the industry. By advancing understanding of PtD responsibilities and implementation strategies, this study contributes to improving occupational safety and health practices within Malaysia’s construction industry, fostering sustainable and safe construction environments. The findings emphasize the need for a structured process protocol in future studies to clarify stakeholder duties, address contractual ambiguities, and cultivate a culture of safety-driven project management.