Application of multiple-criteria decision making methods for construction safety research

Abstract

Decision making is critical to the success of safety management in construction projects. Due to the simultaneous evaluation of numerous criteria and objectives, multiple-criteria decision making (MCDM) is essential for decision problem solving. Several MCDM methods are continuously being developed and are progressively used to solve real-world construction safety challenges. This study aimed to understand the progress of MCDM methods and their application in construction safety. A total of 52 articles were found after conducting a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses review method. The research trend is then described using bibliometric analysis in terms of the number of publications per year, sources of documents, influential authors and countries, highly cited articles and research areas. The findings indicated that the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and its fuzzy version, FAHP, were applied mainly in construction safety research. The key areas where MCDM methods were focused on were safety risk assessment, safety culture and safety programmes. The study findings are expected to assist construction practitioners by allowing them to use the best and optimal MCDM method for problem solving related to safety.