Sustainable living environment for urban low-income households in Malaysia : key factors for maintenance

Urbanisation is predicted to continuously increase every year. Demand for urban shelter will rise and hence this will force governments to act, within their capability, to provide affordable housing in order to maintain social and economic stability. Some industrialized countries have demonstrated full state support from planning and implementation through to continuing maintenance in order to create and sustain a healthy living environment for urban low-in-come households. For developing countries, this might be more difficult. Ensuring adequate maintenance to provide housing quality over the long term is proving even more problematic than simply providing housing. The question is how housing in developing countries can be made sustainable in order to provide a better living environment in the long term. This study focuses on key issues of residential living environments for urban low-cost housing in Malaysia in relation to housing maintenance management. Drawing from extensive primary research and a series of interviews, this exploratory study identifies factors that must be considered by policy makers in order to provide a decent and sustainable living environment for the urban lower-income group. The outcome suggests that current systems of maintenance management - offsetting maintenance to developers or the housing communities themselves, is not working well. The government may need to continue to support low cost housing through maintenance in order to prevent deterioration of accommodation that could become future slums.

Effective housing management framework for multi-owner low-cost housing in Malaysia

The aim of this study is to improve the management of multi-storey low-coast housing occupied by low-income households in Malaysia.  this study suggests the residents' background and socio-economic, the occupancy rates, residents' satisfaction with their dwellings and neighbours could resolve and improve housing management issues.

Multi-owner low-cost housing management in Malaysia : effects of owner-occupant characteristics and occupancy rates

Purpose – Homeownership is considered both economically and socially beneficial for homeowners. However, in the collective living arrangement, reaching a consensus with regard to the residential environment is difficult. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that can reduce the conflict among the stakeholders in multi-owner low-cost housing in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach – This study tested three hypotheses examining whether the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of owner-occupants and occupancy rates affect owner-occupants' satisfaction with stakeholders' relationships. Data were collected through questionnaires from owner-occupants of multi-owner low-cost settlements in Selangor state. Data on housing characteristics were collected from chairpersons of the respective owners' organisations. The data were treated as parametric, and analysis of variance was conducted.
Findings – Four factors – number of children in the family, duration of residency, participation in social activities and participation in meetings – were found to affect owners-occupants' satisfaction with the stakeholders' relationships. The significant effect of occupancy rates was also indicated.
Practical implications – The Management Corporations (MCs) should encourage social relationships among residents. To avoid conflict, the costs and benefits of participation must be balanced. Policy makers should take two key aspects seriously: owner-managed strategy practices by the MCs and high rates of tenant-residents. A mechanism should be identified for assisting the MCs in housing management and for protecting the benefits of homeownership for owner-occupants.
Originality/value – Past studies on low-income household settlements examined public housing or low-income homeowners of single detached dwellings. This study adds to the existing body of knowledge by examining low-income homeowners in multi-owner low-cost settlements.

Determinants of the provision of ethylene oxide medical surveillance in Massachusetts hospitals

An in-depth survey of ethylene oxide (EtO) health and safety was conducted in Massachusetts hospitals (n = 92) to investigate the determinants of the provision of medical surveillance for EtO exposure. We have evaluated the relationships between provision of EtO medical surveillance and (1) activating OSHA-specified triggers for providing EtO medical surveillance, (2) worker training on EtO health and safety, and (3) various public policy, organizational, group, and individual characteristics. Among the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) five specified triggers for provision of EtO medical surveillance, only accidental worker exposures were related to provision of surveillance (RR = 2.56, P < 0.001). Exceeding the Action Level for 30 or more days, one of OSHA's EtO triggers that is also used in a number of other standards, was not related to provision of surveillance (RR = 0.84, P = 0.714). Reports of coverage of EtO medical surveillance issues in worker training were also correlated with the provision of EtO medical surveillance (RR = 3.68, P < 0.001), supporting OSHA's premise that worker training plays an important role in medical surveillance implementation. The presence of detailed written EtO medical surveillance policies was positively related to the provision of EtO medical surveillance (RR = 1.81, P < 0.001). The relationships between these potential determinants and provision of medical surveillance were also validated in multivariate analyses. Implications for improvement of OSHA medical surveillance implementation through revised trigger schemes, improved worker training efforts, and other measures are discussed. Findings are relevant to the future development of medical surveillance and exposure monitoring policies and practices in both substance-specific and generic contexts.