Industry 4.0 & Construction H&S: Comparative Perceptions

Historical construction health and safety (H&S) challenges, in terms of a range of resources and issues, continue to be experienced, namely design process-related hazards are encountered on site, workers are unaware of the hazards and risks related to the construction process and its activities, activities are commenced on site without adequate hazard identification and risk assessments (HIRAs), difficulty is experienced in terms of real time monitoring of construction-related activities, workers handle heavy materials, plant, and equipment, and ultimately the experience of injuries. Given the abovementioned, and the advent of Industry 4.0, a quantitative study, which entailed the completion of a self-administered questionnaire online, was conducted among registered professional (Pr) and candidate Construction H&S Agents, to determine the potential of Industry 4.0 to contribute to resolving the challenges cited. The findings indicate that Industry 4.0 technologies such as augmented reality (AR), drone technology, virtual reality (VR), VR based H&S training, and wearable technology /sensors have the potential to resolve the cited H&S challenges as experienced in construction. Conclusions include that Industry 4.0 technologies can finally address the persistent H&S challenges experienced in construction. Recommendations include: employer associations, professional associations, and statutory councils should raise the level of awareness relative to the potential implementation of Industry 4.0 relative to H&S in construction; case studies should be documented and shared; tertiary construction management education programmes should integrate Industry 4.0 into all possible modules, especially H&S-related modules, and continuing professional development (CPD) H&S should address Industry 4.0.