A lot can go wrong on construction sites, from overexertion to incidents involving vehicles and heavy machinery. Slips, trips, and falls are a particularly serious issue, accounting for 35.3 percent of all construction injuries.
Fortunately, we can do something about these risks. Many new tools and technologies can make construction sites safer, including building information modeling (or BIM) software.
How can a design software solution have an effect on workplace safety? We’ll explain in this guide.
Building information modeling is a holistic process used to create and manage all the information related to a built asset.
Put simply, it creates a digital representation of a physical environment, like a building, a jobsite, a road, or a pipeline network. It does more than simply render a 3D image of the space, however. It also:
- Allows pre-rendered objects to be added and removed from the model
- Keeps track of relations between objects (and how adding or removing one will affect the other components of the design)
- Enables remote collaboration in which team members can make modifications to a shared design
BIM can also be used across the entire project lifecycle. While it is typically associated with the pre-construction design stage, BIM models can also give insight into how maintenance tasks and upgrades could affect the jobsite or its components.
Enhancing Worksite Safety with BIM
Some of the most frequently cited benefits of building information modeling have to do with enhanced project design processes and increased communication. There are many other advantages, though. BIM also allows you to do the following.
Identify Safety Hazards Sooner
BIM technology helps you identify potential safety hazards before the actual construction process begins.
BIM models can also include safety-specific data, such as the fire rating of construction materials or the precise location of access points. This provides more detailed insights and allows for more effective safety planning.
With this data readily available, project managers can pick up on risks, including those related to fire hazards, confined spaces, and heights. This allows them to get a head start on their accident prevention plans for the jobsite.
Improve Workflow Planning Processes
BIM can also improve workflow planning by creating an immersive environment that allows users to visualize not only the space they are creating but the building process itself, the sequencing of tasks, and the interaction of different materials. This visualization also helps project managers identify points at which a task might put a worker at risk of injury, long before those workers even set boots on the ground and start working.
Not only does this allow the creation of more streamlined workflows, but also creates an opportunity to preemptively manage the risks that arise from them.
Get a Better Understanding of the Site Layout
Building information modeling provides you with a strong understanding of the jobsite layout before you ever set foot on it.
In addition to showing an accurate rendering of the site, BIM models can feature other critical details, such as traffic routes and material storage locations.
This enhanced visibility helps project managers and other team members identify areas with a higher risk of traffic congestion, vehicle collision, or lift trucks coming close to hazardous material containers. It will also help them figure out the optimal location to set up safety equipment and store personal protective equipment.
(Learn more in 7 Things to Know About Storing Hazardous Materials)
Monitor Jobsites in Real Time
BIM technology can also improve safety beyond the design stage.
Users can, for example, integrate sensor data collected from the construction site to update their models in real time. That information can then be used to monitor environmental conditions, track workers’ movements, and identify potential safety violations. This allows managers to notice hazards and implement adequate controls before they result in a serious injury or incident.
Real-time monitoring can also make accident investigations more efficient. With access to detailed reports featuring up-to-date information (including information regarding worker behavior), employers are able to see what went wrong, why it went wrong, who was involved, and how similar incidents can be avoided moving forward.
Provide Superior Safety Training
Because BIM tools provide highly accurate information about the jobsite and the risks found on it, employers can use them to provide superior safety training.
Managers can use the data they’ve gathered about the site to deliver training sessions that are relevant to their employees and the situations they are likely to face during a typical workday.
Simulate Emergency Scenarios
Project managers and team leaders can also use building information modeling to simulate emergency scenarios. Safety managers can use these simulations to optimize their emergency response plans, as well as incorporate them in training sessions. That way, managers can be sure workers will know how to respond effectively if an unplanned event occurs on the jobsite.
With these skills, workers will have an easier time mitigating damage and preventing accidents and injuries from escalating.
Improve Communication and Collaboration
Many people love BIM software solutions because they improve communication and collaboration between workers, including those handling different aspects of the job (such as plumbers, architects, and construction crews). BIM also allows all of these people, regardless of their unique responsibilities, to have access to the most recent changes made to the building plan.
This improved communication combined with access to the most up-to-date information can prevent misunderstandings that lead to dangerous mistakes or put workers at risk.
Research also shows that improved communication and collaboration in the workplace can reduce stress and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Construction sites are very high-stress environments, especially as the project progresses and more people are involved. The added stress can cause workers to make more mistakes or make it harder for them to understand specific instructions or assignments. By improving communication and ensuring that everyone is clear on what’s happening on the jobsite, BIM can reduce overwhelm and create a safer and more productive workplace.
(Learn more in 5 Common Contractor Management Challenges – And How to Overcome Them)
Using BIM to Improve Safety and Ensure Compliance
Building information modeling technology is revolutionizing the construction industry, particularly when it comes to worker health and safety. These tools allow for better planning, improved safety monitoring, enhanced communication, and much more.
Those who are on the fence about utilizing BIM software solutions should consider all the benefits they may be missing out on – including those mentioned in this guide.