BIM-Safety Integration in the Nigerian Construction Industry Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Model

Abstract

Health and Safety (H&S) challenges are a significant concern in the Nigerian construction industry, largely due to the lack of a reliable national accident database and the persistence of a fatalistic safety culture. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a transformative digital framework that enables visual hazard identification and proactive risk simulation; however, its use in site safety management remains limited and inconsistent. This study investigates the behavioural, social, and structural determinants influencing the adoption of BIM-based H&S practices among construction professionals, utilising the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). A hypothetical multi-level design was used to model individual professional behaviours as indicators of broader organisational capability. The model was empirically validated using online survey data from 225 professionals across client, contracting, and consulting firms, as well as academia. Structural path modelling was conducted using SPSS/AMOS V23, and moderation analysis was performed with PROCESS macro-4.2. Findings demonstrate that performance expectancy (β = 0.77, p<0.05), effort expectancy (β = 0.48, p<0.05), and social influence (β = 0.25, p<0.05) positively affect behavioural intention to use BIM for safety management. Facilitating conditions were also found to positively influence actual BIM usage for safety management (β = 0.66, p<0.05) and negatively moderated the relationship between behavioural intention and actual BIM usage (β = –0.0431, p < 0.05) contrary to the study hypothesis. The study outlines a four-pronged strategic roadmap: establishing decentralised, self-sustaining data environments through cloud-hybrid Common Data Environments (CDEs); employing 4D phase-simulation animation loops to address multilingual and site literacy barriers during daily toolbox talks; reducing technical barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through lightweight mobile-BIM interfaces; and fostering top-down behavioural compliance via client-mandated procurement clauses and standardized institutional codes from professional regulatory bodies. This research advances the UTAUT model beyond general IT adoption to the safety-critical context of construction engineering and provides empirical evidence of the structural enablers required to shift the construction sector in developing countries from reactive accident management to a proactive, data-driven safety culture.