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April 10, 2015

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BIM and health and safety in the construction sector

by Grace Lewis

Over the past few years, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become a hot topic in the construction industry, accelerating since 2011 when the UK Government announced that all centrally-funded public-sector work would “require collaborative 3D BIM (with all project and asset information, documentation and data being electronic) by 2016”.

When discussing the benefits of BIM, they have been more commonly associated with improving supply chain efficiencies, increasing value for money and reducing waste, than with improving health and safety processes.

Despite a downward trend in fatal injuries in the construction sector over the last 20 years, the industry is still one of the most hazardous in the UK. Part of the vision for the UK 2025 Construction Strategy is: “an industry that attracts and retains a diverse group of multi-talented people, operating under considerably safer and healthier conditions, that has become a sector of choice for young people inspiring them into rewarding professional and vocational careers”

At BIM Show Live 2015, Stefan Mordue, Architect and NBS Business Solutions Consultant, explored the benefits of using new technologies and BIM to improve health and safety processes in construction.

BIM and health and safety: the opportunities

With the surge of mobile technology use in recent years, the construction industry needs to make the most of the technologies available. This can be as simple as using the internet to share information with onsite workers, making sure essential health & safety information is communicated, helping to raise awareness of any developing risks and hazards, or using the internet as a reminder to follow best practice, for example through the use of video. Another example given was how LCD TVs can be used in onsite portacabins to provide visual communication, which is especially important where language barrier is an issue.

Another case study given is Crossrail successfully using mobile phones to update and verify information onsite. However, with mobile technology being banned on some construction sites, the question raised is whether policies should be reviewed in order for health and safety improvements to be made.

Using BIM, scenarios can be simulated in the virtual world before getting on site, enabling workers to address any potential risks without the danger. BIM can also help to re-enact unpredicted risks that have occurred, for example environmental risks, in order to more effectively manage and improve safety processes in the future.

Automated checking can also be completed with BIM meaning rule sets can be analysed to detect hazards. For example, BIM can detect where a fall arrest system should be used, and alerts the user to this.

One benefit of BIM that most people have knowledge of is clash detection. For example, if a fixed unit has been placed against a wall with a power socket, BIM will detect this as an issue. Less widely known is that BIM can also help to plan out sequences of work in a timeline, and detect onsite clashes. For example, if a proposed order of work becomes a safety risk if a specific task were to be completed at that time or in that order.

BIM and CDM Regulations

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) came into force on 6th April 2015 and sets out what people involved in construction work need to do to protect themselves from harm and anyone the work affects.

Can BIM support companies in adhering to these regulations?

As we have seen, BIM can help companies communicate the right information and help them to manage risks, it can help sensibly plan work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish and BIM can help to consult and engage with workers about the risks they need to be aware of.

These are all part of the commitments the CDM regulations set out to do, and shows how BIM can support a new approach to safety innovation.

Written by Grace Lewis, Content & Community Manager at Barbour Product Search, the online building products directory.

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