Using B.I.M. in Design Stage of Construction Projects to Minimise Health and Safety Risks: Proposing a Model for Application of B.I.M. in P.t.D.

In construction industry the conditions of work places inherently change continuously. Additionally, the construction activities conducted on construction sites vary from one project to another. Therefore, the construction industry is one of the most hazardous industry on all over the world and special effort is required to minimise the occupational accidents at construction sites. On the other hand, majority of the dangerous situations appearing on construction sites, are mostly the results of decisions produced during the briefing and design stage. It is beleieved that, considering some precautions during briefing and design stage of construction projects some occupational accidents can be eliminated. The aim of this study is to minimise the occupational risks due to the decisions made during briefing and design stage of the construction projects which may result with occupational accidents. In order to do so, a Hazard Identification System (HIS) was developed by using BIM. This system defines risky construction elements that may cause fall from height type of accidents and suggests safer design alternatives. Hence, much safer buildings can be designed in Occupational Health and Safety point of view. Within the scope of this study, the focal points was a multi-storey building that was designed first without applying the HIS and its risk scores was evaluated by Fine-Kinney method. Then the HIS is applied and the risk scores were re-evaluated in the same way. It was proved that, majority of the risks that caused fall from height type of accidents are detectable and in consideration with the proposed alternative design by HIS, the fall from height risks can mainly be eliminated.