Integrating BIM and VR for enhanced safety communication and training in construction

Conventional job-site safety training methods often face challenges in effectively communicating hazards, particularly on large and complex construction projects involving multicultural and multilingual workforces. This study explores the application of an integrated Building Information Modelling (BIM)–Virtual Reality (VR)–based safety training approach as an interactive and time-efficient method to support hazard communication and learning. Site-specific BIM models were developed in Autodesk Revit and visualized in an immersive VR environment using Enscape, and the system was implemented in an indoor training setting near the active construction site, with hazards modeled from the actual project environment. Thirty participants, including construction workers, site supervisors, and safety personnel from diverse language backgrounds, took part in short, scenario-based training sessions covering hazards such as work at height, falling objects, scaffold safety, and edge protection. Multilingual support was provided through facilitator-assisted explanations in local languages (Telugu and Hindi), together with visual-first immersive cues. Training outcomes were evaluated using structured hazard-recognition tasks, rating scales, knowledge checks, and qualitative feedback. Results indicated improved hazard recognition performance following VR-based training, with a mean participant-level post-training score of 91.8% (SD = 5.6), compared with the same participants’ pre-training baseline scores collected using the same structured hazard-recognition task before the VR sessions, with a mean participant-level score of 68.2% (SD = 8.3). Descriptive analysis also indicated high levels of engagement, clarity, and perceived usefulness. The findings suggest that BIM–VR–based training can support hazard awareness and safety communication in multilingual construction environments; however, as a pilot study without a controlled comparison group, the results should be interpreted as indicative rather than conclusive evidence of training effectiveness or risk reduction.