PurposeDesign for safety (DfS), also known as prevention through design (PtD), is a concept that mitigates accidents and hazards through considerations during the design stage of building projects. The literature provides much information on this concept, but such information is only limited to a few developed countries such as the UK, the USA and Australia. There is limited insight into DfS implementation in the construction industry of several countries, including countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) such as Kuwait. Therefore, this study investigates DfS implementation among design professionals in the Kuwait construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a questionnaire survey to obtain data from design professionals. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e. analysis of variance and t-test).FindingsThe results revealed that DfS awareness among design professionals is very high; there is a very high willingness among design professionals to apply the concept, and design professionals generally view DfS implementation as important. Despite these, the frequency of implementation of DfS practices is generally moderate. In addition, the results revealed that though there is a high interest in DfS training among the design professionals, their actual engagement in training is low. The results also suggest some association between the frequency of engagement in the DfS practices and designers' DfS awareness, training and education. DfS related regulations, industry guidance, formal education and training are considered by design professionals to have the greatest influence on DfS implementation in Kuwait.Originality/ValueThese emerging findings both mirror and contradict aspects of the outcomes of previous DfS studies in other countries. Furthermore, the findings from this study provide insights into a less investigated area regarding work-related health and safety in the GCC region. It offers new and additional information and insights into the current state-of-the-art DfS implementation in the construction industry in Kuwait. In view of the findings, joined-up efforts by government, industry and academia are needed to enhance DfS implementation by design professionals in Kuwait.

This study was informed by the lack of literature that gave a country-specific holistic account of the extent of the application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects. Thus, this current study determined the extent that geosynthetics had been applied to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana and, established the relative level of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana. Structured questionnaire aided in data collection. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and one sample t-test. The study revealed that there was a low level of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana. However, Ghana’s case was of great concern as geosynthetics had been applied to only 7 out of the 28 civil infrastructure projects identified in previous studies. Pipe projects had the most application of geosynthetics whereas geosynthetics were least applied to retaining structures. Moreso, the study further revealed that only 6 out of the 9 types of geosynthetics had been applied to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana namely: geopipes, geomembranes, geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, and geocells. Relatively, geopipes were the most applied geosynthetics whereas geocells were the least applied geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana. This study serves as reference material on the extent of application of geosynthetics to civil infrastructure projects in Ghana which hitherto was lacking in the construction industry in Ghana. It also serves as the basis for future studies on the application of geosynthetics as it contributes to the existing body of literature on the subject.

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PurposeAlthough many health and safety (H&S) studies have widely examined safety risk perception in the construction industry, few studies have explored how this perception influences site workers' risk-taking behaviours during construction. This study aims to examine how construction site workers perceive and judge safety risks in risk-taking behaviours of site workers for intervention safety policy framework that may encourage safe work.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed Pictorial-based Q-Methodology, which documented 63 picture scenarios of risk-taking behaviours from building sites and submitted them for validation from H&S inspectors. In total, 33 pictures emerged as having great potential to cause harm. After using these 33 pictures to elicit data from randomised site workers, the study used Frequency Tabulation, Relative Importance Index (RII) and Kruskal–Wallis Test to analyse the collected data. To fully explain the analysed data for deeper understanding, the study conducted Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with these site workers to share the thoughts of site workers on these pictures.FindingsTwo distinctive pictures emerged from these analyses: one showing risk-taking behaviour likely to contract internal and skin disease and the other likely to fall from height. One of the implications is that construction site workers are unfamiliar with the dangerous contaminants in the materials the site workers use to work, which can potentially harm the site workers' skin and internal organs. Hence, site workers continue engaging in risk-taking behaviours. The other is that site workers are aware of and can mention catastrophic physical injuries attached to site workers' jobs. However, site workers continue engaging in risk-taking behaviours because of site workers' safety plights and rely on the favour and mercies of a supreme being as coping strategies to escape from these physical injuries.Originality/valueThis study is original in that the study uses picture scenarios of risk-taking behaviours to amass an empirical-based understanding of how site workers perceive and respond to H&S risks during construction. This piece of evidence is missing in the numerous research studies in this area. Again, the findings contribute to the state-of-the-art literature regarding risk-taking behaviours on construction sites.

The participation of built environment (BE) professionals is essential in pushing the agenda of green buildings (GBs) in the construction industry. Considering willingness to pay (WTP) in light of these professionals plays a role in the management of the construction industry as one of the major energy consumers and emitters of greenhouse gases. This study, from an extended perspective of green building, seeks to examine the factors that influence Built Environment (BE) Professionals’ willingness to pay for green buildings in Ghana. A questionnaire survey was used to solicit the views of the professionals on the theme under investigation. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to obtain 153 responses from BE professionals such as architects, quantity surveyors, construction managers, and project managers in Kumasi and Accra. Both descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and standard error) and inferential statistics (one-sample t-test) were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that perceived benefit stood out as the topmost factor that BE professionals consider in their willingness to pay for green buildings. This paper could serve as an eye-opener to aid in the development of strategies and influencing mechanisms to stimulate the interest of various groups of BE professionals in delivering a more environmentally friendly construction system. This study contributes to the state-of-the-art studies regarding willingness to pay for GBs. The global literature is largely focused on the willingness of household consumers/clients to pay for GBs to the detriment of the BE professionals, who play key role in GB developments, and encourage their adoption. The novelty of this study stems from the fact that it is the first time the views of BE professionals are examined when it comes to their willingness to pay for green buildings.