BIM Workflow facilitates Safer Construction Sites
BIM Workflow facilitates Safer Construction Sites
Imagine you are in one of those spacious, modern, air-conditioned, Abu Dhabi’s mall, carrying those shopping bags, enjoying with a companion, a place with most elegant architecture and an HVAC system that won’t let you step out anytime sooner. With the most imaginative designs and an extensive array of outlets, shopping malls are perennially popular. You don’t owe this beauty to Mother Nature, as much as you do to a labor’s sore back and sometimes his life.
According to an article published in BBC Qatar, they have clear troubles in maintaining the safety of workers on-site constructions. However; the report issued in 2013 regarding the death tolls in Qatar for building sports facilities gives no clear numbers, we could hardly comment anything on that. But an International Trade Union Confederation suggests 1,200 deaths in recent years, and if continues the same way then 4000 are likely to die in Qatar by the time the World Cup to be held in 2022.
But it’s not just Qatar where this is happening. It’s everywhere. According to the US department of labor, the construction industry is the largest industry and the most dangerous too. Of the 828 construction deaths, 57.7% consisted of the “Fatal Four”:
- 36.5 % falling
- 10.1% were struck by an object
- 8.6% being electrocuted
- 2.5% getting caught in or between objects
With such tragedies around the world, it has become inevitable to place construction safety as a top-notch priority, and with advanced BIM workflows, it should not be an issue.
1. BIM lets you work from a single model and hence it’s pretty easier for stakeholders to have clarity on idea and layout of existing conditions of the site without even having to go there. Site models are expected to not be a static or 2D rather capturing 3D site. For instance, BIM can outline the tower crane for lift planning along with safety reviews during on-site construction. You can also use 3D visualization for various purposes like checking for possibilities of load fall, or for examining crane jib, etc. This is useful if you have very limited space to work and identify the potential clashes.
2. I have always found it interesting to use BIM tools like Autodesk Naviswork, Tekla, ArchiCAD for foreseeing potential hazards, as these are used from the design phase itself. For instance, Tekla is used at construction sites especially and can also be used for inspecting designs and quantity take-off, scheduling and time management, as well as visualizing designs, plans, and schedules. It provides advanced 4D capabilities, to get the 4D views to work appropriately, bearing in mind safety planning. BIM aided visualization can also be used to figure out the potential hazards and create site logistic as well for 4D sequence and construction and activity. Hence, with 4D scheduling competencies, a created safety plan for labors can be planned.
3. BIM also delivers reports and maps regarding the existing site condition for labors that which is extremely important for trainee workers. BIM is important and must tool for Safety managers as it enables them to inspect the process and the sequential plan helps them map a daily basis to define brief site exposure. BIM is the sneak peek in time to look over the possibility of each exposure or safety risk that can happen and helps in defining the resources needed to guard each area.
The construction industry hasn’t changed in the public’s eyes ever since the skyline started changing with skyscrapers. If I ask anyone today what construction industry is, they are likely to say: Labors with sore back and hardhats and that heavy equipment and cranes. But now you have BIM. You can use these capabilities to take one step further and preplanned the entire project and protect your workers, the valuable assets of the firm.
