A conceptual framework for BIM-based site safety practice

With developments in Industry 4.0, there is growing momentum to adopt technology-assisted tools to support existing processes. Even though most construction processes are now computerized, safety procedures have not yet fully embraced the digital revolution. Building information modeling (BIM) is a platform that radically redefines the way in which businesses operate. Various past studies on the application of BIM in site safety mainly focus on using BIM for safety during construction and for a specific project type. The potential benefits of BIM for site safety have not yet been fully explored. The aim of the present study is to develop a BIM-based automatic safety checking (ASC) framework for an early identification of hazards. It includes safety checking with codified OSHA rules, corrective actions, scheduling, and reporting in a virtual environment. All these steps are part of the risk lifecycle which is typically managed according to the phases of construction on a physical site. However, in the proposed framework, all these steps are managed at the preconstruction stage in a virtual environment. The major contribution of this study is the proposed framework that provides the conceptual foundation for early site safety management by identifying hazards at the design stage. The integration of a 3D model with codified OSHA standard safety rules ensures that the design is in adherence to safety rules and is rendered hazard-free for a pilot case.