Factors Contributing to Safety and Health Performance of Malaysian Low-cost Housing: Partial Least Squares Approach

Abstract

Sustainable development is fast emerging as one of the main priorities of construction industry in Malaysia. Malaysians of all income levels, particularly the low-income group, would have accessibility to adequate, affordable and quality shelter. As a result, safety and health performance in the low-cost housing has become a rising concern. This study attempts to explore the influence of architecture, building services, external environment, operation and maintenance and management approaches on the building safety and health performance among the construction practitioners in Malaysia and their subsequent personal responsibility. The study used the Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) tool to test the hypotheses generated. Findings from the Partial Least Squares analysis revealed that architecture, building services, external environment, operation and maintenance and management approaches are vital determinants contributing to safety and health performance of low-cost housing in the Malaysian context. In turn, this determinant that is formed will largely determine whether the construction practitioners engage in influencing personal responsibility towards building safety and health performance. Implications, limitations as well as suggestions for future research are accordingly discussed in this study.

Fire Safety in the Built-Environment: A Case Study in a Residential Facility

“…Violations to the requirement of travel distance were noted in all three stories. Previous studies have empathized the role of compliance with travel distances with code requirements, due to their impact for occupant's safety in case of emergencies [20,21].…”

Response to a Fire Incident in the Operation Room: A Cautionary Tale

“…21 Generally, protection of buildings from fire incidents can be approached from 2 perspectives: building design and building operations. 22 Usually, fire safety measures are not given much emphasis during building design processes and are primarily aimed at satisfying minimum of requirements for building regulations and recommendations. 23 Such buildings will be safe, even if poorly designed, if an alert and efficient firefighting team is put in place.…”

The management of building fire safety towards the sustainability of Malaysian public universities

“…Protecting buildings from fire can be tackled from two perspectives. Namely Building design, and Building operation /management [14]. Although, fire safety priority is very low during the building design process, it is generally included to satisfy minimum requirements for building regulations and recommendation of the insurance company [15].…”