## 5 Discussion
### General Discussions and Practical Applications
As long as human workers continue to interact in the workplace, especially in performing complex and risky tasks, prevention measures and their proper management and training must be rigorous, and XR technologies help to achieve this. However, according to the trends of incorporating robotisation and new technologies in the workplace, new strategies will be necessary to manage safety in these new contexts where human and robot workers coexist, and where new risk scenarios may occur. A clear example of this is the use of drones, where noise or the simple presence of a drone can reduce the worker's concentration and generate potential accidents. But if we look further into the future, where only robots and automated equipment interact in the workplace, without the physical presence of human workers, the implementation of extended reality today represents a preparation for these scenarios in the sector, and in turn, an opportunity to gain experience in safely interacting with the automated workplace. * Adaptability to project types, scales, and regional contexts. While the framework was tested and illustrated with examples of medium-scale building construction, its structure and logic were designed to be adaptable to different types of projects (e.g., infrastructure, industrial facilities), various scales (small to large), and diverse regulatory contexts. The modular organisation of model packages and data inputs allows for a flexible configuration according to project-specific constraints, regulatory requirements, or levels of digital maturity. For example, in projects operating under stricter safety codes (such as those aligned with ISO 45001 or national equivalents), specific rule-based datasets and compliance checks can be integrated into the XR environment. Likewise, the framework can be scaled down for smaller projects using simplified BIM inputs and lightweight XR implementation or expanded in large-scale infrastructure using cloud-based coordination and sensor integration for real-time data flows. Future work should explore these adaptations in more detail, particularly in projects located in regions with varied safety legislation or technological infrastructure. * Risks and implications of XR technology failure in safety-critical contexts. While extended reality technologies offer significant advantages for improving safety awareness, training, and planning, their implementation in safety-critical contexts also involves inherent risks that must be acknowledged. A failure in XR applications--whether due to technical malfunction, low simulation fidelity, misalignment with real site conditions, or user misunderstanding, can lead to incorrect decision-making, false confidence, or a misjudgement of risks by workers and managers. For instance, if a virtual training scenario omits critical hazards or does not replicate realistic constraints, workers may adopt unsafe behaviours on the job site based on incomplete or misleading information. Additionally, over-reliance on XR tools without adequate validation may weaken traditional safety protocols or reduce vigilance during real-world operations. Latency, software bugs, inaccurate data integration (e.g., outdated BIM models), or inadequate user feedback mechanisms could compromise the reliability of XR systems. Therefore, it is essential that XR implementations for safety are rigorously tested, validated against real conditions, and continuously updated. XR should be considered as a complement, not a replacement, for established safety practices. Future research should focus on developing risk assessment models specifically for XR systems and incorporating fail-safes, redundancies, and cross-validation mechanisms within immersive training and planning environments. The proposed framework stands out from existing literature by moving beyond conceptual or isolated XR applications. It delivers a technically detailed and operational structure that supports holistic and lifecycle-wide safety management.