Prioritization of EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) Risks of Unloading and Loading Operations in Chabahar Port Using Shannon’s Entropy Technique

Abstract

Background: The increase in port activities, the establishment of numerous contracting companies in the Chabahar port environment in Chabahar, Iran, and the variety of jobs and port equipment have exposed the active labor force to several risks. Objectives: This study attempted to identify and prioritize the environment, health, and safety (EHS) risks of each of these activities in the unloading and loading operations of goods in this port. Methods: This was an applied descriptive-survey study. Eighty-three managers, EHS experts, port and maritime affairs, experts of unloading and loading companies, and transportation companies of Chabahar port were involved in this study. According to the research background, 26 risks were identified and classified by port and marine experts with more than 10 years of experience under three groups, namely environment (7 risks), health (9 risks), and safety (10 risks). The risks were categorized in terms of severity, probability of occurrence, probability of discovery, and amount of financial loss. Shannon’s entropy technique was used to prioritize the risks. Results: In the safety group, the risk of explosion and fire of equipment, with a weighted score of 0.206, was the most important, and the risk of damage to pier equipment, with a weighted score of 0.02, was the least important. In the health group, the risk of working in abnormal air temperature, with a weighted score of 0.211, was the most important, and the risk of ergonomic cases, with a weighted score of 0.031, was the least important. In the environment group, the risk of waste management, with a weighted score of 0.241, was the most important, and changes in terrestrial and aquatic habitats and biodiversity, with a weighted score of 0.037, were identified as the least important risks. Conclusions: Unloading and loading operations in Chabahar port are more exposed to safety risks, and further focus should be placed on the safety dimension than the other two dimensions because, in the event of safety risks, there is a possibility of losing manpower.