Assessing the Synthesis of BIM Technology and Irish Construction Sector Health and Safety: Using 3D Immersive Environments to Improve Awareness of Risks and Hazards on Building Sites

Ireland is currently on an upward slope in a boom period in the construction industry and it is inevitable that workforce numbers will increase. A n ew approach at engaging field workers in health & safety awareness is critical to maintaining the downward trajectory in fatality and accidents, as the numbers emplo yed in the construction industry increase. As modelling software use in design development and delivery becomes more prevalent , it enhances the designer’s ability to anticipate, spot and foresee hazards and risks in the design . The hypothesis of this paper is that the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) can increase the awareness of construction workers to site risks and educate them on H ealth and Safety (H+ S). In creating an immersive 3d model experience with embedded or linked H+S regulatory information, codes of practice and general Health and Safety Authority (H SA guidance, it is purposed that individuals can engage with a virtual environment containing simulated hazards and guidance on the control or mitigation of these hazards. This 3d environment will be referred to as the H+S BIM Module (HSBIMM) in this document. The framework for implementation of the HSBIMM is founded upon the critical review of the standard theories and inherent assumptions contained within existing peer reviewed literature. This study is a step forward in linking BIM and Irish H+S standards. The mixed methodology used shows simplistic methods for dev elopment of a strategy for use in H+S that benefits greatly by BIM incorporation

Relationship between molecular pathogen detection and clinical disease in febrile children across Europe: a multicentre, prospective observational study

BackgroundThe PERFORM study aimed to understand causes of febrile childhood illness by comparing molecular pathogen detection with current clinical practice.MethodsFebrile children and controls were recruited on presentation to hospital in 9 European countries 2016-2020. Each child was assigned a standardized diagnostic category based on retrospective review of local clinical and microbiological data. Subsequently, centralised molecular tests (CMTs) for 19 respiratory and 27 blood pathogens were performed.FindingsOf 4611 febrile children, 643 (14%) were classified as definite bacterial infection (DB), 491 (11%) as definite viral infection (DV), and 3477 (75%) had uncertain aetiology. 1061 controls without infection were recruited. CMTs detected blood bacteria more frequently in DB than DV cases for N. meningitidis (OR: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.92-5.99), S. pneumoniae (OR: 3.89, 95% CI: 2.07-7.59), Group A streptococcus (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.13-6.09) and E. coli (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.02-6.71). Respiratory viruses were more common in febrile children than controls, but only influenza A (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11-0.46), influenza B (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.37) and RSV (OR 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06-0.36) were less common in DB than DV cases. Of 16 blood viruses, enterovirus (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.72) and EBV (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.56-0.90) were detected less often in DB than DV cases. Combined local diagnostics and CMTs respectively detected blood viruses and respiratory viruses in 360 (56%) and 161 (25%) of DB cases, and virus detection ruled-out bacterial infection poorly, with predictive values of 0.64 and 0.68 respectively.InterpretationMost febrile children cannot be conclusively defined as having bacterial or viral infection when molecular tests supplement conventional approaches. Viruses are detected in most patients with bacterial infections, and the clinical value of individual pathogen detection in determining treatment is low. New approaches are needed to help determine which febrile children require antibiotics.FundingEU Horizon 2020 grant 668303