BIM in Safety and Health

Innovation protects safety and health on construction sites

In construction, every decision matters. A mistake in planning can lead to delays, overruns… and, most importantly, risks for those working on the project. This is where Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Safety and Health becomes a key ally: it not only helps to design buildings, but also to work more safely.

What is BIM in Health and Safety

BIM is the acronym for Building Information Modelling, which translates as “Building Information Modeling”. BIM is defined as the use of a digital representation Shared by an asset built to facilitate the design, construction, and operation processes, and provide a reliable foundation for decision-making.

It is a working methodology which is based on the Collaborative work among agents throughout the asset's life cycle, from the initial planning phase, through design, construction and maintenance, and ending with decommissioning.

Obligation to use BIM in public contracts

The BIM Plan in Public Contracting was approved by the Council of Ministers on June 27, 2023. The BIM Spain Plan has established a timeline of milestones with the progressive and mandatory use of BIM in public contracts.

Starting April 1, 2024, the contracting bodies of the General State Administration and its affiliated entities must tender works contracts and concessions with an estimated value equal to or greater than 5,538 million euros under a “Initial” BIM level. From October 1, 2025 These contracts have been classified as “Medium”; and for works exceeding 2 million euros, they must be classified as “Initial”.

The BIM Plan establishes a progressive schedule for contracts related to or preceding construction or the concession of works (design, control, Safety and healthThey will also have to comply with BIM requirements when they are involved in these large contracts.

This means that plans or drawings are no longer enough: three-dimensional coordination, collaborative models, and digital management of information are beginning to be required in contracts for construction, design, technical assistance, and safety and health.

By 2030, it is expected that this obligation will be progressively extended to the “Integrated” and “Advanced” levels in public sector tenders. At Q-Safety, we do not just observe this evolution; we actively apply it to ensure that our projects not only meet the requirements, but also exceed the highest expectations in terms of safety and health.

Preventing risks from the design stage

Thanks to the application of the BIM methodology, it is possible to detect risks before they appear during the execution phase of the project. For example, during the project’s implementation (in the design phase), the Safety and Health Studies or Basic Studies, and then, before starting the work, the Safety Plans can simulate the assembly of certain structural elements and detect dangerous access points, areas of difficult access, or interference that could compromise the safety of the workers.

This allows the design to be adjusted in time and prevents possible accidents in the future.

Better communication on the job site

The BIM model generates easy-to-understand views for everyone: developers, management, architects, engineers, contractors, safety and health coordinators, and workers. In this way, critical safety information (for example, areas of risk of falls, the need for collective protections, or evacuation measures) is shared in a clear and accessible way, reducing errors due to a lack of communication.

More secure management of the work

With centralized information, BIM facilitates coordinating the work of the different companies and self-employed workers involved in the execution of the project. In addition, it allows for the planning of preventive measures in advance and ensures that they are implemented at the exact time.

BIM as a prevention culture

Beyond technology, BIM drives a Cultural change in companies: integrate safety and health as part of the design and management of projects themselves. Thus, each BIM model becomes a model of prevention, where the important thing is not just building well, but building Sure.

At Q-Safety we believe that innovation only makes sense when it improves people's lives. That's why we apply BIM so that every project is more efficient, yes... but above all, safer. Because behind every data point and every simulation, there are always people.