A comprehensive framework for integrating extended reality into lifecycle-based construction safety management

Abstract

Construction remains one of the most hazardous industries, with high accident rates driven by insufficient planning, coordination, and safety training. While extended reality (XR) technologies, encompassing virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, have shown promise in improving safety outcomes, existing applications are typically isolated, lacking integration across the project lifecycle and alignment with digital methodologies such as those found in Construction 4.0. This study proposes a comprehensive workflow and framework for the integration of XR technologies into construction safety management, grounded in Building Information Modelling, Lean Construction, and Prevention through Design. This methodology structures the use of XR to support safety planning, training, inspection, and control, with a focus on lifecycle integration and proactive risk mitigation. Implementation examples are presented to illustrate the framework’s applicability and scalability. These demonstrate how XR can support immersive walkthroughs, synchronisation with BIM data, and simulation of human–machine interactions. This study contributes a structured, replicable approach that addresses the current fragmentation of XR safety applications, offering both a theoretical basis and practical guidance for adopting XR in construction safety workflows.