Mobile computing for accident prevention through design

Prevention through Design (PtD) is recognised as an effective way to curtail workplace accidents in construction. Many governments around the world therefore have mandated PtD; a major modification to designers’ responsibilities. However, industry surveys show that designers face enormous challenges in implementing PtD due to lack of knowledge regarding risks caused by their design choices and how they may be reduced or eliminated. This research aimed to develop a mobile app as a decision support system that can assist designers with PtD. Knowledge acquisition for the development was conducted via a combination of content analysis of PtD literature and an interview survey with construction practitioners. Then, the mobile app was prototyped and subsequently tested with a case study approach. The mobile App will be instrumental in enhancing designers’ competency in PtD and thereby reducing workplace accidents on construction sites.