NIOSH Award #1 R13OH011707-01-00

Keynote Presentations

Welcome and Introductions

The 2024 Prevention through Design (PtD) Workshop will kick off with a warm welcome to all participants. Important logistical details, such as exit routes, bathroom locations, and Wi-Fi information, will be provided at the outset. The event’s theme, “Education, Training & Legislation – Where do we go from here?” will be introduced, setting the focus for a day dedicated to significant developments in PtD practices over the past five years. The workshop will feature both national and international speakers who will cover topics including advancements in PtD, structural safety, and the ongoing debate between legislative and self-regulation approaches. The agenda will be presented, highlighting interactive and collaborative breakout sessions aimed at identifying strategies to advance PtD practices and panel discussions addressing key challenges in the field. Esteemed speakers and moderators will be briefly introduced, as they will lead discussions that offer valuable perspectives.

Short Bio

Dr. Zia Ud Din is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Management at the University of Houston. His research interests include construction safety, innovative pedagogies, and construction information technology. He uses immersive visual technologies to improve construction safety and productivity. Currently, his research is focused on utilizing augmented and virtual reality technology to enhance the effectiveness of risk identification in construction for job hazard analysis (JHA).

Dr. Zia Ud Din earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Pakistan, a Master of Science degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea, and a Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. He also completed two years of postdoctoral training at Arizona State University.

Dr. Zia Ud Din is dedicated to teaching and has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses at Arizona State University and the University of Houston. Some of the courses he has taught in recent years include “Project Controls,” “Building Information Modeling Applications for Construction Management,” and “LEED and Green Construction Principles in Construction Management.”

Opening Remarks

Short Bio

Jim was sworn in on January 20, 2021, and started work with OSHA on the same day. Although it was his first day working with the government, it wasn’t his first experience with OSHA.

Before joining the Department of Labor, Jim devoted 30 years of his career to worker safety and health, primarily as a union safety and health representative, including 25 years with the United Steelworkers Union. He also actively engaged with OSHA and many of OSHA’s stakeholders throughout his career.

His work at OSHA focuses on real and meaningful worker involvement without fear of retaliation so that employers and safety and health professionals can better control hazards and lower the risk of workers experiencing acute traumatic injuries and chronic occupational illnesses.

On any given day at OSHA, Jim can be found working on the agency’s regulatory priorities; engaging with workers, employers, advocates, and others in the occupational health and safety community; recruiting and retaining staff; developing strategies to ensure that whistleblower protections are focused on the outcome for workers who have been victims of retaliation; and refining OSHA’s cooperative programs to ensure that workers are a vital part of the good work that is being done.

Jim believes that open and clear communication is key to ensuring that workers understand their rights and that employers know their responsibilities. He works to make sure the agency is keeping up with technologies, tools, and resources to increase OSHA’s reach to the agency’s stakeholders. One example of this is adding the agency’s first national family liaison to support families who lost a loved one in a workplace incident.

Jim often notes that the work at OSHA since January 2021 has been an incredibly rewarding experience. He considers his opportunity to serve the agency, department, administration, and America’s workers a privilege second to none.

What did we Learn during the Last Five Years?

This keynote presents the highlights of the PtD Initiative (2020-2024) and its series of workshops on preventing construction hazards and enhancing worker safety. Dr. Gibson will review the evolution of PtD from conceptual frameworks to practical applications, emphasizing successful case studies. He will discuss an overview of topics that we have discussed during these five years for advancing PtD knowledge, promoting the implementation of PtD and PtD education. The presentation encapsulates insights from a series of annual workshops, featuring collaborative achievements among stakeholders from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies. This retrospective and prospective overview aims to propel PtD principles forward, advocating for strategic advancements in construction safety.

Short Bio

Edward (Edd) Gibson, Jr., is the President and CEO of NAC as of 2024. He is also Professor Emeritus in Construction Management and Engineering in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU having retired from academia in 2022. From 2010 to 2018 he served as director of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at ASU. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a PhD, both from Auburn University. He also holds an MBA in engineering management from the University of Dallas.

Edd is a prolific author and has supervised over 100 master’s and doctoral students to graduation in his career. He has made significant technical contributions in prevention through design, earned value management, front end planning, risk management, and dispute resolution. Edd has received the Outstanding Researcher Award (twice), the Instructor of the Year Award (twice), and the Distinguished Professor Award from the Construction Industry Institute. He served as president of the Architectural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2006 and was elected Distinguished Member of ASCE in 2020.  He also served as a Fulbright Fellow in Norway in 2004 and as a Visiting Academic Fellow at Cambridge University in spring 2019.  In 2016, he was awarded the ASCE Peurifoy Award for Outstanding Research and was awarded NAC’s inaugural Richard L. Tucker Service Award in 2020.  In 2022, he was awarded the Richard L. Tucker Leadership and Service Award from CII for his work with the Institute from 1988 to 2019.  Edd is a licensed engineer in Texas.

Review of UK Developments on PtD?

The UK has had an explicit legislative regime covering Prevention through Design (PtD) within the construction industry since the mid-1990s. This review and commentary of recent developments in the UK includes presentation of a recent evaluation of the Principal Designer role under CDM (2015), the introduction of new Building Safety Laws, and developments initiated by the BIM4H&S working group, chaired by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The HSE review, titled ‘Implementation of the PD Role within CDM 2015’ was published in 2023. Insights of interest to the USA include: the increased use of CDM consultants, where ‘advisors’ are considered more effective than ‘substitutes’ for designers; the negative impact of reduced fees for the PD role; and the importance of independent reviews.

The new Building Safety Laws, introduced in the aftermath of the Grenfell high-rise residential fire, place more onerous duties on Principal Designers. However, these are completely different and separate from the PD role under CDM (2015). There are important implications regarding the new need for a ‘Building  Safety Case’, Building Control Gateways, and the ‘Golden Thread’ of information. However, proposals under the Scottish system can provide a less complicated approach whilst retaining independent review.

The work of the BIM4H&S involves use of Building Information Management technologies to improve H&S. This includes development of a ‘Construction Risk Library’; a proposed standardised data schema linking risk attributes to hazard information; and a platform to visualise programme risk profiles.

Short Bio

PtD in the Australian construction industry: Legislation, Knowledge and opportunities

The presentation explores the intersection of legislative frameworks, education, and decision-making in PtD within the Australian context. It covers key topics such as work health and safety performance, the role of legislative frameworks in promoting PtD, and the use of infographics to enhance understanding of PtD principles. The presentation also delves into prosecutions under PtD laws, the impact of the National Coronial Information System in saving lives through data, and provides a case study that highlights lessons from coronial findings. Finally, it examines Enforceable Undertakings as a tool for improving safety outcomes in the construction industry.

The overview underscores the importance of integrating PtD principles through robust legislation, informed decision-making, and effective educational strategies to enhance safety in the Australian construction sector.

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Structural Collapses During Construction: Lessons Learned

Since 1990, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has investigated numerous structural collapses during construction and demolition, tragically resulting in fatalities and injuries across a diverse range of structures—from steel and concrete high-rises to low-rise wooden buildings. Through these investigations, we have gained valuable insights into the underlying causes of these incidents.

The lessons learned underscore the paramount importance of conducting thorough design evaluations, implementing robust construction supervision practices, and adhering rigorously to safety protocols throughout every phase of project execution. Case studies serve as compelling examples of how these principles can be effectively applied, showcasing interventions that significantly bolster structural integrity and enhance overall safety within the construction industry.

Looking forward, our engineering team is committed to collaborating closely with stakeholders across the construction sector to implement Prevention through Design (PtD) strategies. By fostering a pervasive culture of safety and continual innovation, we endeavor to mitigate risks and create safer working environments for construction personnel and the public at large.

Short Bio

Dr. Alan Lu earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, focusing on Geo-technical and Materials Engineering, from Iowa State University. His expertise spans geo-technical and structural engineering, encompassing building design, structural dynamics, and earthquake engineering. Early in his career, he was involved in designing diverse building structures, conducting complex structural analyses, and overseeing projects from conception to completion. Presently, he leads OSHA’s Office of Engineering Services, where he provides engineering support to various Agency components and manages a program dedicated to investigating and inspecting construction incidents involving fatalities and catastrophes.

PtD in Practice: Influencing Positive Designer Behavior Through ‘de5ign’

A designer’s influence on construction worker and end user safety is informed through education, training, on-site experience, design management practices, published guidance and legislation. However, the process of managing design safety is inconsistent which leads to confusion and missed opportunities for the designer to improve the asset’s whole lifecycle.  Considering the delivery of local built environment projects through an ever-increasing global resource pool, with varying levels of knowledge and experience, a cultural change is required to improve positive designer behavior.  

Jacobs’ solution to this challenge is de5ign (pronounced ‘five in design’) which changes designer behavior from focusing purely on technical and legal compliance, to adopting a behavioral culture of making design decisions which benefit both the safety, health and wellbeing of people who will construct or interact with our designs and the environment.

Ray will discuss how Jacobs has assessed academic studies on PtD and put the PtD Standard ANSI/ASSP Z590.3 into practice, to enable our designers leave a lasting positive legacy.

Short Bio

Ray is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the design, procurement and construction of infrastructure projects.  He is currently the global HSE in Design Lead for Jacobs who is responsible for both the development and deployment of our global sustainable design management process de5ign (pronounced ‘five in design’).

Closing Remarks

The closing remarks will provide a reflection on the accomplishments and progress made throughout the five-year Prevention through Design (PtD) Initiative. It will highlight the initiative’s goals of advancing PtD knowledge, promoting its implementation across agencies, industry, and academia, and encouraging its inclusion in U.S. construction management and engineering programs. The remarks will acknowledge the initial challenges of limited PtD awareness and implementation in the U.S., and how the annual workshops have served as a critical platform for sharing insights and fostering collaboration and, moving forward, will continue serving as an online repository of PtD resources. The closing remakrs will also emphasize the importance of continuing the momentum gained during this initiative, recognizing the positive impact of PtD on construction safety and the potential for reducing safety disparities between the U.S. and other countries with PtD legislation.  

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