Health and Safety Management in the Digital Age: Exploring Baneful Elements of Digitalisation

Olushola Akinshipe, Clinton Aigbavboa, Nikiwe Nhantumbo

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

While digital tools have been widely adopted in the construction industry to enhance quality and efficiency, adopting digitalisation for safety and health management has been relatively slow due to uncertainties regarding its potential impact. This paper examines the risks of implementing digital technologies in construction health and safety management. Despite the perceived benefits, digitalisation poses risks such as user error, increasing complexity, reduced interactive relations, information overload, and computer crashes. These risks can compromise the effectiveness and efficiency of construction health and safety management and put personnel working on sites in danger. The study suggests that understanding the different digitalisation risks is crucial for improving health and safety management in construction. Previous studies have focused on the benefits rather than the critical risks of employing digital technologies in construction, resulting in a knowledge gap. Therefore, the study provides empirical evidence on the risks associated with digitalisation to enable construction industry decision-makers to make informed decisions. The study recommends developing measures to reduce uncertainties related to employing digitalisation in construction health and safety. These measures will help overcome the risks associated with digitalisation. The strategies will further enhance construction health and safety practices and ensure that digitalisation yields positive outcomes. The findings of this study will assist construction industry decision-makers in making informed decisions regarding adopting digitalisation for health and safety management. This will help to reduce the uncertainties in return on investment and ensure that digitalisation enhances construction health and safety practices.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 13th International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century, CITC 2023
EditorsSyed M. Ahmed, Salman Azhar, Amelia D. Saul, Kelly L. Mahaffy, Rizwan U. Farooqui
PublisherEast Carolina University
ISBN (Electronic)9781732441644
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Event13th International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century, CITC 2023 - Arnhem, Netherlands
Duration: 8 May 202311 May 2023

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Construction in the 21st Century
Volume2023-May
ISSN (Electronic)2640-1177

Conference

Conference13th International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century, CITC 2023
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityArnhem
Period8/05/2311/05/23

Keywords

  • Construction Industry
  • Digital Tools
  • Digitalisation
  • Digitalisation Risks
  • Health and Safety

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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