A Novel AHP-PRISM Risk Assessment Method—An Empirical Case Study in a Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

Risk assessment methods are a continuously developing field in research and practice. Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods, like AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), have a significant role in traditional risk assessment development. The PRISM (Partial Risk Map) methodology is a novel risk assessment method aiming at safety and reliability-sensitive operational fields. Since the PRISM method initially applies deterministic evaluation scales just like many traditional risk assessment techniques, this research focuses on developing the PRISM method by combining it with AHP. Thus, the new AHP-PRISM method can create more sensitive rankings than the original method, and the consistency of the expert group can also be tested after the assessment. By applying the consistency test, the reliability of the assessment can be described, which is necessary for a safety culture environment. Based on a real-life case study in a nuclear power plant (NPP), the new AHP-PRISM method is tested.