INTEGRATING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) TO ENHANCE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Safety is a constant problem in the construction industry. The construction industry faces the highest rate of fatal accidents and injuries as compared to the many other industries in Singapore. Currently, Singapore has set a national target to achieve 1.8% fatalities per 100,000 workers by 2018. Although there are many efforts and guidelines set out to ensure safety, it is still insufficient and that safety is still an apparent concern in Singapore. Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a powerful new platform for developing and implementing “design-for-safety” tools and methods to facilitate both engineering and administrative controls during design and construction. Despite the many capabilities of BIM, the local industry still lacks knowledge and awareness in BIM to fully maximise its capabilities. This dissertation evaluates implementation of BIM in construction projects in Singapore and identifies limitations that organisations faces when implementing BIM to enhance safety. Through conducting a series of research analysis on the current efforts organisations use to enhance safety, the development of a conceptual framework to integrate BIM can be made possible to enhance construction safety. It is believed that BIM complements the current efforts to enhance safety.