Digital innovations in construction health and safety: A systematic literature review
Abstract
The construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries, with persistently high rates of injuries and fatalities. Traditional approaches to safety management are largely reactive, relying on inspections, checklists and investigations after incidents occur. These approaches are valuable but often insufficient to prevent recurring accidents or establish proactive safety cultures. In recent years, digital technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and immersive virtual environments have entered the construction sector. These technologies enable earlier
hazard detection, real-time monitoring and improved training opportunities for workers and managers. This study systematically reviews digital technologies applied in construction health and safety between 2015 and 2025. The review follows the PRISMA framework and analyses peer-reviewed literature retrieved from Scopus and Discover databases. After screening and applying inclusion criteria, 68 studies were selected for analysis.
The findings classify digital technologies across five analytical dimensions including stage of application, mode of application, response type, machine-human interaction and nature of deployment. Results show that digital technologies contribute to hazard detection, immersive training, real-time monitoring and data-driven safety planning. Despite clear benefits, adoption remains uneven due to cost, interoperability challenges, limited digital literacy and concerns about privacy. The review concludes that digital technologies are transforming safety management from reactive compliance to proactive risk prevention, offering significant potential to improve worker protection and safety performance across the construction industry
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