Improving Construction Safety Record Management through a BIM-Based Decision Support System

This paper seeks to propose a building information modeling (BIM)-based decision support system (DSS) that can improve construction safety record management by visualization of safety records within the BIM environment and by creating a central repository of safety management incidents; both accidents and near-misses. For this purpose, a detailed literature review was conducted to determine research gaps in traditional safety management practices. Later, the identified loopholes were made the key focus while developing the safety record management software (SRMS) and its utility test was conducted on an under-construction school site where the site workers were given SRMS training. The incidents reported (23 near-misses and 4 minor accidents) by the workers were recorded in SRMS based on their criticality level. The SRMS prototype generated both hard-copy reports and saved data automatically to the central repository of all safety incidents on-site to make it accessible for further analysis of safety incidents at the site. Interviews of the field experts were also conducted to gauge the applicability of this prototype and its potential vis-à-vis the identified research gap. The study finds that loopholes in traditional safety management can be mitigated using the given SRMS prototype that will enable in the creation of a precedence data repository through digital storing, organization, and visualization of safety information. It can also sensitize safety management within the construction hierarchy as indicated from the survey for health and safety (H&S) managers who reviewed the success of the prototype on the site. This study aims to achieve a solution to the overriding concerns halting the proper implementation of safety mechanisms through organized management, and digitization, and by building an easy-to-use integrated repository for safety record keeping. To address the issues, this research utilizes information and computer technology (ICT) that can work as a DSS. It can minimize information gaps, safety lags, and cost margins.