A Conceptual Framework for Enhancing Construction Safety in Sri Lanka Through Digital Technology Implementation

Abstract

The hazardous and unpredictable nature of construction work poses substantial safety challenges. Despite the long-standing reliance on traditional safety practices, accident rates in the construction industry remain unacceptably high, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions. Integrating digital technologies into construction offers a promising approach to safety enhancement with diverse applications. However, successful technology implementation requires user acceptance and strategic guidance. Consequently, this study develops a conceptual framework to guide digital technology implementation efforts to improve construction safety in Sri Lanka. The framework incorporates essential aspects of technology implementation, including safety application areas, benefits, barriers, and facilitators. The research methodology combines an industry-based cross-sectional survey of 101 construction industry professionals followed by a relative importance index analysis to evaluate the perceived significance of these factors. The findings indicate that the primary barriers to technology implementation are the skills and training gap, as well as the cost and investment constraints. The optimal facilitators to overcome barriers include research and development, education and training, and the establishment of industry-wide standards and guidelines. The framework is validated through an expert survey, ensuring its reliability and applicability. Ultimately, the findings present a structured approach to enhancing construction safety standards in Sri Lanka through digital transformation.

1. Introduction

1.1. Overview

Despite significant advancements in the construction industry, safety remains a persistent challenge [1,2]. Globally, the construction sector employs about 7% of the workforce [3]. However, it is responsible for 30–40% of workplace fatalities [3]. Although government organizations, industry, and academia continue to implement various safety measures, accident rates in the construction sector remain unacceptably high [4].

For instance, in China, the construction industry accounts for over one-third of annual industrial accidents [5]. In the United Kingdom, about one-third of occupational fatalities are from the construction industry [6]. In Norway, the construction industry reports a substantially higher number of incidents than other industries [4]. In Australia, fatality rates among construction workers are significantly higher than in other sectors [7]. These statistics underscore the alarming prevalence of workplace accidents in the construction industry.

The primary reasons behind this frequent occurrence of workplace accidents are the hazardous nature of construction work and the unpredictable environments in which they take place [8,9,10]. Furthermore, each construction workplace has unique characteristics, such as its organizational culture, available resources, processes, and workforce behavior, which contribute to high variability and additional risks [11].

The consequences of workplace accidents are substantial, not only in terms of human lives, but also through time and financial losses [12]. Therefore, prioritizing safety not only protects workers, but also enhances the efficiency, recognition, and overall performance of the industry [13]. This emphasizes the urgent need for novel and proactive strategies to improve construction safety.

1.2. Limitations of Traditional Practices and the Role of Digital Technologies in Enhancing Safety

Although continuous research and practical interventions have reduced accident rates [3], the construction industry is significantly behind the goal of “zero accidents/injuries” promoted by many organizations [14]. This is primarily because of the industry’s heavy reliance on traditional safety practices, which are based on parametric models and manual methods [15]. While these practices such as toolbox talks, hazard reporting, and adherence to safety regulations help maintain baseline safety [16], they are insufficient for addressing the complex and evolving risks of modern construction projects [9,10].

This highlights the need for innovative safety solutions that perform beyond traditional methods [14,15]. The integration of advanced digital technologies into construction presents a promising approach, offering enhanced capabilities in hazard recognition, safety planning, and safety management [1,2]. Consequently, integrating these technologies into the construction industry can foster safer and more sustainable working environments [10,17].

Over the years, numerous digital technologies have emerged, offering a wide array of safety applications [13]. These include, but are not limited to, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Internet of Things (IoT), Serious Games, drones, and mobile and wearable devices [1,18]. Additionally, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning techniques, such as Stochastic Gradient Descent, have demonstrated effective applications in occupational health and safety by automating risk assessment processes [19]. By enabling advanced visualization, simulation, and analysis of construction processes, these technologies empower stakeholders to identify and mitigate safety risks and hazards more effectively.

1.3. Current Status of Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry in Sri Lanka

While many developed countries have successfully implemented digital technologies to enhance construction safety, developing countries remain in the early stages of digital transformation [1,20]. Thus, this transition remains particularly challenging for countries like Sri Lanka [21], where conventional safety practices have long been the norm [14,22].

Despite these challenges, the Sri Lankan construction industry is making significant progress in its digital transformation. For instance, Chamikara et al. [23] explored the use of BIM to manage cost overruns in design and building projects, concluding that it is a promising solution. Amirthavarshan et al. [24] examined the potential of digital twin technology for construction progress monitoring, highlighting its benefits, applications, and challenges.

Epasinghe and Jayasena [25] identified the low potential for adopting open BIM in Sri Lanka, citing key technical and industrial challenges. Abeywickrama et al. [26] discussed the integration of digital technologies for alternative dispute resolution, while Senanayake et al. [27] explored the use of AR in construction cost management. Perera et al. [28] analyzed the challenges of fire hazard management in high-rise buildings, advocating for the extension of BIM to improve collaboration and automate fire safety processes.

In addition, Rathnayake [29] examined the barriers and drivers of BIM adoption in Sri Lankan quantity surveying organizations and proposed a framework to foster its adoption. Gunasekara and Jayasena [30] developed a framework aimed at overcoming the technological and financial challenges associated with BIM adoption in Sri Lanka. Gamage et al. [31] investigated the barriers to adopting blockchain and smart contracts in the industry and proposed a framework for their successful integration. Moreover, Chathuranga et al. [12,32] developed an organizational readiness model to assess the Sri Lankan construction industry’s preparedness for adopting digital technologies to enhance productivity.

Consequently, these studies underscore the growing interest in integrating digital technologies into the Sri Lankan construction industry. However, most of this research has concentrated on other aspects of construction, with a relatively limited focus on enhancing construction safety.

1.4. Knowledge Gaps, Research Aims, and Significance

Many previous studies have focused on the implementation of individual technologies to enhance construction safety. Consequently, comprehensive frameworks that facilitate multiple digital technology implementations are still lacking [33]. In Sri Lanka, there have been efforts to adopt digital technologies to improve aspects like construction productivity, cost management, and progress monitoring. However, there is no structured framework specifically designed to provide strategic guidance for the implementation of digital technologies to improve construction safety.

This research aims to fill these gaps by developing a conceptual framework that can provide strategic guidance for digital technology implementation to enhance construction safety in Sri Lanka. The framework is based on a thorough evaluation of key safety application areas, safety benefits, barriers, and facilitators of technology implementation. It also assesses the preparedness of employees for digital transformation, providing valuable insights to guide the transition.

Although the primary focus is on the Sri Lankan construction industry, the framework’s principles and methods can be adapted and applied to other developing countries facing similar challenges. The findings offer critical insights that can inform policies and industry practices, supporting a broader move towards a safer and more sustainable construction industry.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Digital Technologies and Construction Safety

To ensure the feasible implementation of digital technologies, this study prioritizes the most impactful and widely researched technologies [34]. A systematic review by Afzal et al. [1] identifies BIM, AR, VR, GIS, and Serious Games as the most frequently explored technologies for construction safety enhancement. Given that Sri Lanka is still in the early stages of digital transformation, focusing on these already-established technologies offers a practical and effective approach. Accordingly, these five technologies were selected to develop the technology implementation framework. The following sections present a detailed overview of their specific safety applications in the construction industry.

2.1.1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BIM encompasses a precise 3D digital model enriched with information used for planning, designing, building, and facility operations [1,35]. BIM plays a crucial role in enhancing construction safety through visualization, training, rule-based checking, automatic rule checking, and design for safety suggestions [36,37]. Additionally, BIM can be applied to tasks such as planning temporary facilities, modeling crane operations, conducting fire safety analysis, providing simulation-based training, performing automated safety checks, and enhancing overall safety measures and coordination [28,35,38,39]. Consequently, safety planning and management, safety compliance and enforcement, and safety training and education were identified as the primary safety application areas facilitated by BIM implementation.

2.1.2. Virtual Reality (VR)

VR is a technology that creates simulated environments where users can interact with a 3D space as if it were real [40]. VR provides immersive simulations for safety training and education [40,41,42]. VR-based training can simulate risky situations and practice construction activities without actual hazards, enhancing safety awareness and preparedness [43]. VR also has significant potential in hazard identification and safety inspections by immersing stakeholders in a virtual environment to visualize, analyze, and address safety risks [44]. Consequently, VR implementation prominently focuses on safety training and education, safety inspection and instructions, and hazard identification as core safety application areas.

2.1.3. Augmented Reality (AR)

AR technology overlays digital information in the real world, enhancing users’ perception and interaction with their surrounding environment [45]. It improves the effectiveness of safety inspections and instructions by superimposing real-time information, such as safety guidelines, equipment details, and hazard warnings, directly on-site [46]. AR-based simulations enable employees to train for hazardous situations and emergency responses in realistic yet controlled environments [42,47]. This is highly effective in reducing on-the-job risks by enhancing workers’ preparedness, knowledge, competency, and confidence while reinforcing safety awareness and practical skills [33]. Consequently, safety training and education, as well as safety inspection and instructions, were identified as the primary safety application areas facilitated by AR implementation.

2.1.4. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

GIS is an advanced technology for acquiring, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographic data [48]. Its potential in safety planning and management is evident through the integration of spatial and temporal data for site safety analysis [49]. GIS is also vital in simulating potential hazards at a construction site, enabling stakeholders to assess risks and make adjustments to the site layout, workflows, or safety protocols before construction works begin [50]. Additionally, it has significant potential for site selection by evaluating the safety, cost, and environmental impacts [50,51]. It further facilitates the proactive handling of health and safety risks through spatial analysis [49]. Consequently, GIS implementation prominently focuses on safety planning and management, as well as safe site selection as core safety application areas.

2.1.5. Serious Games

Serious games combine gaming elements with real-world challenges to enhance safety training and education [52]. Serious games in immersive virtual reality provide an interactive and engaging platform for safety education, enabling individuals to develop hazard identification skills in risk-free environments [53]. These gamified systems not only enhance user engagement but also provide effective training in recognizing potential hazards on a construction site before actual work begins [54,55]. Consequently, the primary safety area of serious games was identified as safety training and education.

2.2. Key Safety Application Areas

Based on the diverse safety applications for the selected five technologies, six key safety application areas were identified (Figure 1). These areas are safety planning and management, safety compliance and enforcement, safety training and education, safety inspection and instructions, hazard identification, and safe site selection.

2.3. Main Aspects of Digital Technology Implementation

Based on the literature review, this study identifies key safety application areas, safety benefits, barriers, and facilitators related to digital technology implementation. These aspects act as the foundational pillars of the developed technology implementation framework.

The six key safety application areas identified in the previous section are summarized in

Table 1. Key safety application areas of digital technology implementation.

Technology	Safety Application Area	References
BIM	Safety planning and management	[35,36,38]
	Safety compliance and enforcement	[38,56]
	Safety training and education	[35,39]
VR	Safety training and education	[40,41]
	Safety inspection and instructions	[41]
	Hazard identification	[43,57]
AR	Safety training and education	[47,58]
	Safety inspection and instructions	[45,59]
GIS	Safety planning and management	[48,60]
	Safe site selection	[50,51]
Serious Games	Safety training and education	[54,55]

for clarity and ease of reference.

The digital transformation of the construction industry provides numerous safety benefits. An awareness of these benefits is crucial in enhancing the acceptance of digital technology integration in the construction industry. Consequently,

Table 2. Potential safety benefits of digital technology implementation.

Technology	Benefit	References
BIM	Improved hazard identification	[37]
	Early detection of safety issues	[1]
	Interactive simulations	[38]
	Enhanced visualization	[10,37]
	Enhanced risk assessment	[1]
VR	Enhanced awareness and understanding of safety risks	[40]
	Immersive and interactive platform for realistic safety training	[43]
	Enhanced learning retention and decision-making skills	[41]
	Improved worker competency in safety protocols	[40]
AR	Enhanced learning retention and decision-making skills	[61]
	Immersive and interactive platform for realistic safety training	[47]
	On-site guidance	[46]
	Risk-reduced learning	[42]
GIS	Improved hazard identification	[48]
	Enhanced risk assessment	[50]
	Comprehensive site evaluation	[51]
Serious Games	Engaging and interactive safety training	[54]
	Real-time feedback and performance tracking	[55]

presents the potential safety benefits identified through the literature review.

The digital transformation of the Sri Lankan construction industry is still in its early stages. Thus, critical aspects such as technologies, policies, regulations, and infrastructure are still evolving [18]. Consequently, this transformation is hindered by several significant barriers. Based on the literature review, the authors have identified eight technology implementation barriers that are particularly relevant to the context of developing countries, as summarized in

Table 3. Barriers to digital technology implementation.

Barrier	References
Lack of awareness and understanding	[10,62,63]
Cost and investment	[13,33,64]
Technological challenges, complexity of projects, and time constraints	[65,66,67]
Resistance to change and organizational culture	[33,63,68]
Lack of standardization	[65,67,69]
Skills and training gap	[33,62,68]
Data management and privacy concerns	[62,67,70]
Regulatory and legal issues	[64,68,69]

.

The success of technology implementation hinges on how effectively the industry addresses the identified barriers. Facilitators of technology implementation have to play a crucial role in this process.

Table 4. Facilitators of digital technology implementation.

Facilitator	References
Government support and policies	[13,17,71]
Collaboration and knowledge sharing	[13,17]
Industry leadership and championing	[36,72,73]
Education and training	[13,74]
Research and development	[10,73]
Industry-wide standards and guidelines	[17,75]

summarizes six key facilitators with the potential to overcome these barriers. These facilitators are instrumental in creating an environment that supports and promotes the effective integration of digital technologies in the construction industry.

All factors identified across the four categories of safety application areas, potential safety benefits, barriers, and facilitators were surveyed among construction industry professionals in Sri Lanka to integrate industry perspectives. These factors, along with their relative importance in the local context, served as the foundation for the development of the proposed digital technology implementation framework.

3. Methodology

The research adopted the mixed-methods approach, integrating a literature review and a comprehensive questionnaire survey among construction industry professionals in Sri Lanka [67]. This section provides a detailed overview of the research methodology. Figure 2 illustrates the overall research process.

3.1. Survey Design

The cross-sectional survey conducted among construction industry professionals is comprised of three main sections. The first section collected respondents’ characteristics to contextualize the study sample, including their professional title, experience in construction, and the age category. The second section focused on collecting data to evaluate the respondents’ perspectives, readiness, and competence in utilizing selected digital technologies.

The third section gathered data to assess the perceived importance of factors within the categories of safety application areas, safety benefits, barriers, and facilitators. In the third section, data were collected using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Not Significant) to 5 (Highly Significant) unless otherwise specified. Some questions use alternative terminology for the 5-point scale, which is clearly indicated within the respective sections.

This study collected only technical information, with no personal data of the respondents included. As a result, ethical approval was waived. Respondents were informed of the survey’s objectives in advance, and only those who voluntarily consented to participate were included.

3.2. Sampling Methods and Respondent Characteristics

The research utilized both convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods. The first layer of respondents was selected using convenience sampling [2,76,77], targeting construction professionals known to the authors, with sufficient representation across various regions of Sri Lanka. These respondents were then asked to refer other professionals within their network who were suitable to participate in the survey, following the snowball sampling [67]. Consequently, a total of 101 questionnaires were completed and received.

Accordingly, the respondent sample includes 101 construction industry professionals from various roles, age groups, and experience levels.

Table 5. Respondent characteristics.

Category	Sub-Category	Percentage (%)
Professional title	Safety officer	23.7
	MEP engineer	22.8
	Civil engineer	22.8
	Quantity surveyor	19.8
	Technical officer	6.9
	Project manager	4.0
Age group	20–29 years	59.4
	30–39 years	31.2
	40–49 years	9.4
Industry experience	1–5 years	56.0
	6–10 years	22.0
	11–15 years	13.0
	More than 15 years	9.0

summarizes the characteristics of the respondents.

The sample reflects a balanced representation of both emerging and experienced construction professionals. The inclusion of younger professionals is particularly valuable, as they are more likely to be familiar with digital technologies and are the future leaders of the industry.

3.3. Data Analysis Methods

Descriptive statistics were utilized to present a comprehensive summary of the respondents’ demographic characteristics and the overall dataset. To assess the perceived importance of various factors, the Relative Importance Index (RII) method was employed. This approach facilitated a structured evaluation of factors across four key categories: safety application areas, perceived benefits, barriers, and facilitators related to the implementation of safety technologies, based on the respondents’ insights [31,36,62]. A widely accepted RII threshold value of 0.6 was adopted to identify factors considered significant [31]. The RII for each factor was calculated using Equation (1).

$$RII={\displaystyle \frac{\sum W}{A\times N}} ;(0<RII<1)$$

(1)

• W = Weighting (1 to 5) given to each factor by the respondents.
• A = Highest weight (i.e., a score of 5 on the scale).
• N = Total number of responses.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1. Workforce Capacity Assessment in Utilizing Digital Technologies

Proficiency and prior training in using digital technologies are essential prerequisites for successful technology integration. Without these skills, post-implementation processes may be hindered, with fewer individuals capable of managing the new technologies. Therefore, this study conducted a workforce capacity assessment.

The analysis revealed that 70.6% of respondents had not received any prior training in using digital technologies. The self-assessment of expertise in using digital technologies informs that 52.9% have ‘moderate’ expertise, 27.9% rated their expertise as ‘high’ or ‘very high’, while 19.2% reported ‘low’ or ‘very low’.

Despite these skill gaps, 86.8% of respondents believe digital technology integration will significantly enhance construction safety within the next 5–10 years. Furthermore, 42.6% consider the technology implementation ‘very important’, while 51.5% consider it ‘important’ for safety enhancement, reflecting a positive industry outlook on implementing digital technologies.

4.2. Contextual Significance of Key Aspects of Technology Implementation

This section presents the relative importance of factors under the categories of safety application areas, safety benefits, barriers, and facilitators according to the RII analysis. This analysis is valuable as it incorporates context-specific industry perspectives, enhancing the relevance and applicability of this study’s findings.

4.2.1. Familiarity with Digital Technologies

Based on the RII analysis with the 5-point Likert scale (1—Not familiar at all to 5—Highly familiar), GIS was identified as the most familiar digital technology among respondents, while AR was the least familiar. Following GIS technology, BIM, Serious Games, and VR were ranked in the sequence of familiarity, positioned as 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (

Table 6. Digital technology familiarity.

Technology	Mean	SD	RII	Rank
GIS	3.05	1.32	0.61	1
BIM	3.00	1.09	0.60	2
Serious Games	2.90	1.28	0.58	3
VR	2.80	1.22	0.56	4
AR	2.75	1.28	0.55	5

). The relatively low RII values (below 0.6) indicate a moderate familiarity with these digital technologies among industry professionals in Sri Lanka.

4.2.2. Relative Importance of Safety Application Areas

Table 7. Relative importance of safety application areas.

Technology	Safety Application Area	Mean	SD	RII	Rank
BIM	Safety planning and management	4.00	0.86	0.80	1
	Safety training and education	3.90	0.89	0.78	2
	Safety compliance and enforcement	3.40	0.79	0.68	3
VR	Safety inspection and instructions	3.80	0.89	0.76	1
	Hazard identification	3.80	1.01	0.76	2
	Safety training and education	3.70	1.00	0.74	3
AR	Safety training and education	3.65	0.99	0.73	1
	Safety inspection and instructions	3.55	0.71	0.71	2
GIS	Safety planning and management	3.85	0.73	0.77	1
	Safe site selection	3.70	0.77	0.74	2
Serious Games	Safety training and education	3.65	0.93	0.73	1

SD: standard deviation.

presents the relative importance of safety application areas of digital technologies according to the industry perspectives.

According to the RII analysis, BIM (RII = 0.80) and GIS (RII = 0.77) perform well in safety planning and management. However, the respondents perceived BIM as slightly more effective in this area, as reflected by its marginally higher RII. Additionally, BIM is pivotal in safety training and education [39], with an RII of 0.78. GIS also plays a significant role in safe site selection, with an RII of 0.74, highlighting its importance in informed site selection and risk mitigation strategies [51].

AR and Serious Games are significantly effective in safety training and education, both with an RII of 0.73. Their ability to offer interactive, engaging training solutions improves learning retention and skill development among employees [54,61]. VR is highly effective in safety inspection and instruction, as well as hazard identification, with a high RII of 0.76, emphasizing its value in immersive and interactive safety solutions [40].

Overall, these digital technologies show great potential across various safety areas. BIM and GIS are most effective for safety planning and management, AR and Serious Games lead in safety training and education, while VR excels in safety inspection and instructions.

4.2.3. Relative Importance of Safety Benefits

Table 8. Relative importance of safety benefits.

Technology	Safety Benefit	Mean	SD	RII	Rank
BIM	Early detection of safety issues	3.70	1.07	0.74	1
	Enhanced risk assessment	3.65	0.91	0.73	2
	Improved hazard identification	3.60	0.92	0.72	3
	Interactive simulations	3.50	1.03	0.70	4
	Interactive visualization	3.45	0.93	0.69	5
VR	Enhanced learning retention and decision-making skills	3.65	0.88	0.73	1
	Immersive and interactive platform for realistic safety training	3.55	1.06	0.71	2
	Improved worker competency in safety protocols	3.50	1.07	0.70	3
	Enhanced awareness and understanding of safety risks	3.30	1.05	0.66	4
AR	Risk-reduced learning	3.60	0.92	0.72	1
	On-site guidance	3.55	0.92	0.71	2
	Enhanced learning retention and decision-making skills	3.30	0.84	0.66	3
	Immersive and interactive platform for realistic safety training	3.20	0.87	0.64	4
GIS	Comprehensive site evaluation	3.65	1.07	0.73	1
	Enhanced risk assessment	3.40	1.00	0.68	2
	Improved hazard identification	3.25	1.02	0.65	3
Serious Games	Real-time feedback and performance tracking	3.50	1.07	0.70	1
	Engaging and interactive safety training	3.40	1.05	0.68	2

outlines the relative importance of the potential safety benefits of each technology based on industry perspectives.

The primary benefit of BIM is the early detection of safety issues, with the highest RII of 0.74. The enhanced risk assessment (RII = 0.73) and improved hazard identification (RII = 0.72) were also instrumental. Moreover, the findings highlight BIM’s strengths in proactive safety management through interactive simulations and visualizations [13].

Enhanced learning retention and decision-making skills (RII = 0.73) can be identified as the key benefit of VR, according to industry perspectives. This underscores its effectiveness in immersive training environments that improve the understanding and competency of employees [41]. VR also serves as an immersive platform for realistic safety training (RII = 0.71), emphasizing its role in interactive and engaging training sessions [43]. Moreover, VR is instrumental in enhancing worker competency in safety protocols.

AR is highly effective in risk-reduced learning (RII = 0.72), demonstrating its capability to provide safe training environments before actual construction begins. Furthermore, the on-site guidance of AR is instrumental (RII = 0.71), which potentially reduces the risk of workplace accidents. AR also enhances the learning retention and decision-making skills of employees, while offering interactive platforms for realistic safety training, similar to VR [47].

GIS facilitates a comprehensive site evaluation (RII = 0.73) and enhanced risk assessment (RII = 0.68), demonstrating its ability to integrate safety, cost, and environmental considerations into the analysis [51]. However, its role in hazard identification is comparatively lower according to industry perspectives (RII = 0.65).

Serious Games provide valuable real-time feedback and performance tracking, achieving a significant RII of 0.70. It also offers engaging and interactive safety training with an RII of 0.68. This indicates its utility in providing dynamic training experiences that facilitate effective learning and performance monitoring [54,55].

4.2.4. Relative Importance of Technology Implementation Barriers

The RII analysis highlights the relative importance of barriers to digital technology implementation, as summarized in

Table 9. Relative importance of technology implementation barriers.

Code	Barrier	Mean	SD	RII	Rank
B1	Skills and training gap	3.55	0.99	0.71	1
B2	Cost and investment	3.45	0.96	0.69	2
B3	Lack of standardization	3.35	0.85	0.67	3
B4	Technological challenges, complexity of projects, and time constraints	3.35	1.10	0.67	4
B5	Resistance to change and organizational culture	3.30	0.87	0.66	5
B6	Lack of awareness and understanding	3.25	1.24	0.65	6
B7	Regulatory and legal issues	3.10	1.10	0.62	7
B8	Data management and privacy concerns	3.00	1.10	0.60	8

. The table prioritizes these barriers based on their criticality and assigns unique codes to each barrier.

The skills and training gap (RII = 0.71) is the most critical barrier to technology implementation, aligning with previous findings that highlight this as a common challenge in developing countries [2]. Digital literacy in developing countries is comparatively lower than in developed countries, which hinders the efficiency of digital transformation [2]. This highlights the urgent need for tailored incentives to improve related skills and training in utilizing digital technologies [31].

The second most critical barrier is cost and investment constraints (RII = 0.69). Several researchers have also highlighted that the high upfront costs associated with advanced infrastructure, hardware, and software present a significant challenge to technology adoption in the construction sector [13,78]. Also, the limited demand from clients for technology integration to construction activities reduces investment incentives [10,67,79], particularly in developing countries like Sri Lanka.

Most Sri Lankan construction organizations operate on small- to medium-scale projects, where cost reduction and being within the allowable budget is vital for profitability. Consequently, organizations tend to rely on well-established construction practices that are familiar and perceived as cost-effective. Therefore, striking a balance between technology implementation and return on investment is a key strategy for advancing construction safety while driving digital transformation.

A lack of standardization (RII = 0.67) also emerged as a significant barrier from the perspective of industry professionals. Previous studies have shown that the absence of industry-wide standards often results in the fragmented implementation of digital tools, weakening the overall effectiveness of safety and efficiency efforts in construction projects [65]. Such inconsistencies can hinder digital transformation by causing compatibility, security, and functionality challenges across platforms [78]. As a result, the limited interoperability between software and hardware systems restricts the full potential of these technologies within the industry.

The complexity, technological challenges, and time constraints (RII = 0.67) of modern construction projects complicate efforts to implement digital technologies [66]. The unique characteristics of different construction projects often require tailored technological approaches. Concurrently, organizations face intense pressure to complete projects on time [67]. These conditions lead organizations to prioritize conventional methods over digital technological advancements.

The organizational culture and resistance to change (RII = 0.66), as well as a lack of awareness and understanding of digital technologies (RII = 0.65), are also significant technology implementation barriers. Employees tend to adhere to established organizational practices due to familiarity and a preference for conventional workflows [67], which hinders the integration of new technologies. Moreover, implementing digital technologies demands specific knowledge and skills, which may not receive early acceptance from employees [78]. Accordingly, overcoming this resistance requires substantial organizational changes and strong leadership [36]. Furthermore, the lack of awareness and understanding about technologies can create uncertainty and fear, discouraging employees from embracing these innovative solutions [63]. This lack of awareness can also reinforce resistance to change, making digital transformation even more challenging. Therefore, strategic interventions are needed to highlight the benefits of digital technology implementation and cultivate a positive attitude in construction organizations toward digital transformation [72].

Significant yet less critical barriers include data management and privacy concerns (RII = 0.60) and regulatory and legal issues (RII = 0.62) within the Sri Lankan context from an industry perspective. While these issues are still crucial in construction digitalization, they may be of lower concern due to respondents’ limited experience with these technologies. As construction operations become increasingly digitalized, data management, data security, and data privacy will become more critical, driven by industry competitiveness [62]. However, the prevailing data management approaches in Sri Lanka are still in their early stages, which highlights the lack of readiness to achieve effective digitalization.

Also, the regulatory and legal issues need to be streamlined to facilitate smoother technology implementation. Given that the country is still in the early stages of digital transformation, essential policy incentives must be introduced, and existing regulations should be updated to support successful and feasible integration. The Sri Lankan government has a key role to play in this process. Addressing these challenges will enhance digital technology implementation, ensuring better data management and legal compliance [68].

4.2.5. Relative Importance of Technology Implementation Facilitators

The optimal facilitators to overcome potential implementation barriers were ranked using RII analysis, incorporating industry perspectives (

Table 10. Strategic guidance to overcome barriers using facilitators.

Rank	Facilitator (Mean, SD, RII)	Barrier Code—Mitigation Strategy
1	Research and development (3.95, 1.08, 0.79)	B2—identifies cost-effective methods, software, and hardware applications for implementing digital technologies while minimizing financial constraints (Author).
		B4—develops innovative solutions and frameworks to tackle technological complexities while making digital tools more user-friendly and efficient [10].
		B8—advances data security technologies and methods, effectively addressing data management and privacy concerns [17].
2	Education and training (3.90, 1.03, 0.78)	B1—training programs to enhance employee competencies and digital literacy, bridging the prevailing skill and knowledge gaps in utilizing digital technologies [67,74].
		B5—educational and training incentives to foster a positive organizational culture that embraces technological advancements [2], overcoming resistance to adopting digital technologies.
		B6—enhances employees’ awareness and understanding of the substantial benefits of technology implementation [78], reducing fear and misconceptions about new technologies.
3	Industry-wide standards and guidelines (3.90, 0.79, 0.78)	B3—develops a unified approach to technology implementation across the construction industry [31], reducing inconsistencies and inefficiencies.
		B7—develops effective regulatory frameworks for organizations, streamlining existing legal and regulatory barriers [67,69].
		B8—establishes clear data protection protocols [79], mitigating privacy concerns and ensuring secure and systematic data management.
4	Industry leadership and championing (3.75, 1.02, 0.75)	B2—leaders act as advocates, promoting investment in digital solutions and driving organizations toward digital transformation [36].
		B5—inspires and motivates employees to integrate digital technologies into construction practices [72], cultivating a culture of innovation to overcome resistance to change.
5	Collaboration and knowledge sharing (3.60, 0.99, 0.72)	B2—encourages resource pooling to lower individual implementation costs and ease financial constraints on local construction organizations (Author).
		B3—facilitates co-creation of strategic solutions and establishment of common standards [17], enhancing industry-wide consistency.
		B5—facilitates the exchange of best practices and lessons learned [67], reducing uncertainties in technology implementation and fostering a positive organizational culture.
6	Government support and policies (3.25, 0.95, 0.65)	B2—provides financial incentives, such as subsidies, grants, or loans, which ease the financial constraints associated with technology implementation [10,71]. B7—continuously updates and streamlines regulatory and policy frameworks for technology implementation, encouraging organizations to integrate digital technologies into construction practices [13].

). Research and development (RII = 0.79), education and training (RII = 0.78), and industry-wide standards and guidelines (RII = 0.78) emerged as the top facilitators for digital technology implementation in Sri Lanka. Other facilitators were also considered significant, with RII values exceeding 0.6 [31].

Table 10 further provides a detailed discussion of how facilitators can be utilized to address specific implementation barriers. Concurrently, Figure 3 visually illustrates the facilitator–barrier relationship, with corresponding RII values presented in the parentheses. By examining these findings together, readers can gain a comprehensive understanding of how facilitators can be strategically leveraged to overcome barriers. These insights enable stakeholders to develop targeted strategies that foster a more resilient, efficient, and technologically advanced construction sector, ultimately ensuring long-term safety.

4.3. Digital Technology Implementation Framework

Based on the comprehensive evaluation of safety application areas, safety benefits, barriers, and facilitators using RII analysis, the digital technology implementation framework has been developed (Figure 4). The rankings in Figure 4 are derived from the RII analysis, with corresponding RII values presented in the parentheses.

The developed framework is further strengthened by the detailed discussion provided in Table 10 and the illustrated relationship between facilitators and barriers in Figure 3, demonstrating how facilitators can be utilized to overcome technology implementation barriers. This integrated approach provides critical insights for policymakers, industry practitioners, and academics to accelerate digital transformation to enhance construction safety in Sri Lanka.

4.4. Validation of the Developed Technology Implementation Framework

The developed technology implementation framework was validated using the expert survey approach. Eight professionals from the construction industry, including five from the private sector and three from the public sector, each with a minimum of five years of experience in digital technology utilization and construction safety management, participated in the survey. The group included one project manager, two construction engineers, one planning engineer, two safety officers, one quantity surveyor, and one technical officer.

The survey questionnaire assessed the developed framework based on seven validation statements, rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree) [15]. The mean Likert scale rating for the validation statements is presented in

Table 11. Results of the validation survey (n = 8).

Code	Validation Statement	Mean	p-Value (Two-Tailed)
S1	Identified digital technologies are appropriate and suitable for the Sri Lankan context	4.0	0.05
S2	Framework incorporates all essential aspects of technology implementation	4.6	<0.05
S3	The framework is comprehensive, providing a detailed overview	4.4	<0.05
S4	The framework provides practical guidance for effective technology implementation	4.0	0.05
S5	The framework is objective and reliable	4.4	<0.05
S6	The research methodology is logical and replicable	4.6	<0.05
S7	The framework supports the future scalability of technology implementation	4.6	<0.05

. Additionally, a one-sample t-test was conducted to justify that there is a significant difference between the theoretical mean of 3.0 and the respondents’ mean ratings.

The S2, S6, and S7 statements received a significant mean rating of 4.6. Accordingly, experts strongly believe that the framework comprehensively incorporates all necessary aspects of technology implementation. Additionally, they affirm that the methodology employed is logical and replicable while holding high scholarly value by providing future scalability of technology implementation to enhance construction safety in Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, the significant mean rating of 4.4 for the S3 and S5 statements suggests that the developed framework is both objective and reliable, offering a comprehensive and detailed overview of technology implementation. In contrast, the S1 statement received a comparatively lower mean rating of 4.0. This implies that experts were slightly less confident in the suitability of the selected technologies to enhance construction safety, potentially due to the industry’s early stage of digital transformation.

While the practical guidance (S4) provided by the framework is somewhat less emphasized compared to other aspects, experts still acknowledge that it offers a clear roadmap for digital technology implementation. Consequently, industry experts validated the framework for the Sri Lankan context, confirming its applicability and finalizing its development.

4.5. Research Implications

4.5.1. Theoretical Implications

This study introduces a novel, comprehensive framework that guides multiple digital technology implementations to enhance construction safety. The rigorous literature review incorporates all essential aspects of technology implementation, including safety application areas, safety benefits, barriers, and facilitators. The factors under each of these four categories were assessed for relative importance using an industry-based RII analysis, which shows the context-specific and replicable methodical approach taken. The validation of the framework by industry experts further enhances its theoretical significance. While the framework is grounded in the Sri Lankan context, its adaptability across similar contexts offers opportunities for future theoretical exploration.

4.5.2. Practical Implications

The framework provides a comprehensive perspective on key aspects of digital technology implementation and their relative importance, which is crucial for context-specific interventions for effective digital transformation. The detailed discussion on how to overcome implementation barriers using facilitators (Table 9 and Figure 3), along with the developed conceptual framework (Figure 4), provides strategic guidance for the digital technology implementation efforts to enhance construction safety. These findings are particularly valuable for policymakers, industry practitioners, and academics, enabling collaborative efforts to leverage facilitators in overcoming critical implementation barriers. This well-informed approach helps organizations align their digitalization objectives with the developed framework, ensuring a more structured and efficient digital transformation of the Sri Lankan construction industry.

4.6. Strengths and Limitations

This study is the first to propose a tailored framework for integrating digital technologies into Sri Lanka’s construction industry to enhance safety. It encompasses all key aspects of technology implementation while also incorporating their relative importance from an industry perspective. This approach is both comprehensive and detailed yet remains replicable for broader applications. Furthermore, it provides strategic guidance to achieve an efficient digital transformation of the construction industry. The framework’s credibility is further reinforced through expert validation.

Although there are many strengths, some limitations are also present. This study’s comparatively low sample size may limit the representation of the broader Sri Lankan context. Additionally, the research does not deeply explore the unique requirements and challenges of individual technology implementation. These limitations have to be considered when interpreting the findings.

4.7. Recommendations and Future Studies

To enhance the robustness and applicability of the framework, future research should focus on expanding the sample size and including professionals from various levels and roles within the construction industry. Additionally, testing the framework in regions with similar socio-economic contexts will further strengthen its applicability.

The periodic refinement of the framework is essential to capture emerging trends and ensure its continued relevance. Future studies should also investigate the specific challenges associated with the implementation of individual technologies, thereby expanding the framework’s scope. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses are recommended to systematically evaluate the framework’s reliability and adaptability across different contexts.

5. Conclusions

This study offers a novel contribution to the field by developing the first context-specific conceptual framework for implementing digital technologies to enhance construction safety in Sri Lanka. The framework focuses on key technologies, including building information modeling, virtual reality, augmented reality, geographic information systems, and serious games, which offer a wide array of construction safety applications.

A comprehensive literature review guided the identification of essential components for effective technology implementation, including safety application areas, associated benefits, barriers, and facilitators. To evaluate the practical relevance of these elements, this study employed a Relative Importance Index (RII) analysis based on responses from a cross-sectional survey of 101 construction professionals across Sri Lanka. This analysis provided valuable insights into the relative significance of these factors within the local industry context.

This study further prioritizes the most critical barriers to technology implementation and identifies the most effective facilitators to overcome them. These findings form the foundation of the proposed implementation framework (Figure 4). Furthermore, the strategic guidance provided in Table 10 along with the relationships illustrated in Figure 3 demonstrates how these facilitators can be effectively leveraged to overcome key implementation challenges. To ensure the framework’s reliability and practical relevance, it was validated through an expert survey involving eight experienced professionals from both the public and private sectors in Sri Lanka. The results confirmed the framework’s applicability and credibility within the local construction context.

In summary, this research offers a structured and actionable roadmap for integrating digital technologies to improve construction safety. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry professionals, and academics, supporting collaborative efforts to drive sustainable digital transformation in Sri Lanka’s construction sector.