Occupational Safety Risk Assessment Research Articles

Occupational Safety Risk Assessment for Wola Heavy-Duty Machinery Operator in a Romanian Diabase Open –Pit Mine

Abstract Occupational safety risk assessment is always the basic stage of the systematic approach of reducing the impact of undesired events (work injuries and occupational illnesses), by decreasing both their likelihood of occurrence and the gravity/severity of the generated impact. Eighteen years ago, when, as a consequence of the regulatory changes induced by our country’s accession into the European Union, the risk assessment became mandatory/compulsory. Since then some progress was factually realized in the spirit of applying different risk analysis techniques in all Romanian organizations. Even if there are many aspects that are requiring further improvement, an effectively validated and nationally accepted indigenous tool is nowadays available. This method was put in practice in this research paper, in order to analyse, evaluate and assess the safety risks related to several of the main activities/jobs in a diabase open pit mine exploiting construction stone in a certain province of the country. Based on the results obtained, it has become feasible to propose realistic measures aimed at preventing the identified and quantified risks located in the field of unacceptable risks and protecting exposed workers to their effects. The case study developed and synthesized in this article confirms the capability of the risk assessment process to facilitate the substantiation of the decisions regarding the allocation of resources towards the minimization of the risks encountered in the work processes by different categories of workers in the mining companies.

Risk assessment with the fuzzy logic method for Ankara OIZ environmental waste water treatment plant

In this study, occupational safety risk assessment has been performed for Ankara Chamber of Industry 2nd and 3rd Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ) Regional Directorate - Environmental Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) by fuzzy logic method. In the literature, there are lots of risk assessment methodologies. These methods for the risk level do not give accurate results in systems such as WWTPs with a lot of complexity and variability. Also, these methods include strict lines and are not reflecting the practical issues of the real-world applications. For this reason, these methods are to be adopted by the use of fuzzy logic. Fuzzy Logic Risk Analysis Model which gives more realistic results compared to traditional methods based on probability. For fuzzy safety risk assessment firstly membership functions for input and output are created and values risk assessment input data is blurred then Fuzzy Risk Priority Number (FRPN) is determined in the Matlab 2013a software program. In this study a risk matrix merged with Fuzzy Logic model is developed to enhance the risk assessment process which is dealing with uncertainties that arise in each phase of the risk assessment process. RPN values were investigated and compared by 5x5 matrix and fuzzy logic method.

Developing a Novel Occupational Safety Risk Assessment Method in the Power Distribution Industry

Developing a Novel Occupational Safety Risk Assessment Method in the Power Distribution Industry

Risk Değerlendirme Metotlarının İnşaat Sektöründe İş Güvenliği Kapsamında Karşılaştırılması

Is sagligi ve guvenligi (ISG) is kazalarinin ve meslek hastaliklarinin en dusuk seviyeye indirgemeyi amaclayan gecmisi insanlik tarihi ile paralel olan bir kavramdir. Iscinin saglik, guvenlik ve refahi is guvenligi kapsamindadir. Insanoglu gecmisten gunumuze hayatini idame ettirebilmek adina is yapmak mecburiyetinde kalmistir. Yapilacak isler yapisi ve yerleskesi itibariyle belirli veya belirsiz riskler barindirmaktadir. ISG temelinde bu risklerin minimum seviyede kalmasi icin alinmasi gereken aksiyonlari arastirmaktadir. Mesleki tehlikelere maruz kalan iscilerin isle ilgili hastalik ve yaralanma gelistirme riski daha yuksektir. Risk degerlendirmesi calisan ve isverenin maruz kaldigi risklerin belirlenmesi ve degerlendirilmesi acisindan en onemli yapilardan birisidir. Nicel ve nitel olmak uzere iki kategoriye ayrilan risk degerlendirme metotlarinin is sagligi ve guvenligi kapsaminda karsilastirilmalari de detayli analizlerini iceren calismada metodolojiler arasindaki farkliliklar ortaya konulmus, buna bagli olarak da uygulama asamasinda yapilmasi gerekenler ortaya konulmustur. Is guvenligi risk degerlendirmesi isyerinde risk kontrolunun uygulanmasi, mesleki faaliyetler ve isci sagliginin korunmasi adina zorunlu niteliktedir. Isveren bu calismayi kendi bunyesinde yapabilecegi gibi disaridan hizmet alarak da yaptirabilir. Bu calismanin amaci; is sagligi ve guvenligi acisindan ortaya cikabilecek tehlike ve risklerin analizinde kullanilan risk degerlendirme yontemlerinin karsilastirilmasi ve sonucunda alinmasi gereken onlemlerin belirlenmesinde etkinliklerini degerlendirmektir.

An Internet of Things (IoT)-based risk monitoring system for managing cold supply chain risks

PurposeSince the handling of environmentally sensitive products requires close monitoring under prescribed conditions throughout the supply chain, it is essential to manage specific supply chain risks, i.e. maintaining good environmental conditions, and ensuring occupational safety in the cold environment. The purpose of this paper is to propose an Internet of Things (IoT)-based risk monitoring system (IoTRMS) for controlling product quality and occupational safety risks in cold chains. Real-time product monitoring and risk assessment in personal occupational safety can be then effectively established throughout the entire cold chain.Design/methodology/approachIn the design of IoTRMS, there are three major components for risk monitoring in cold chains, namely: wireless sensor network; cloud database services; and fuzzy logic approach. The wireless sensor network is deployed to collect ambient environmental conditions automatically, and the collected information is then managed and applied to a product quality degradation model in the cloud database. The fuzzy logic approach is applied in evaluating the cold-associated occupational safety risk of the different cold chain parties considering specific personal health status. To examine the performance of the proposed system, a cold chain service provider is selected for conducting a comparative analysis before and after applying the IoTRMS.FindingsThe real-time environmental monitoring ensures that the products handled within the desired conditions, namely temperature, humidity and lighting intensity so that any violation of the handling requirements is visible among all cold chain parties. In addition, for cold warehouses and rooms in different cold chain facilities, the personal occupational safety risk assessment is established by considering the surrounding environment and the operators’ personal health status. The frequency of occupational safety risks occurring, including cold-related accidents and injuries, can be greatly reduced. In addition, worker satisfaction and operational efficiency are improved. Therefore, it provides a solid foundation for assessing and identifying product quality and occupational safety risks in cold chain activities.Originality/valueThe cold chain is developed for managing environmentally sensitive products in the right conditions. Most studies found that the risks in cold chain are related to the fluctuation of environmental conditions, resulting in poor product quality and negative influences on consumer health. In addition, there is a lack of occupational safety risk consideration for those who work in cold environments. Therefore, this paper proposes IoTRMS to contribute the area of risk monitoring by means of the IoT application and artificial intelligence techniques. The risk assessment and identification can be effectively established, resulting in secure product quality and appropriate occupational safety management.

CONSRAT. Construction sites risk assessment tool

One peculiarity of the construction sector is that each construction site represents a unique workplace. The specific characteristics of the site affect risk generation and its evolution. However, available risk assessment tools do not capture the specificities of construction sites that may affect risk, because they only focus on assessing identified risks from a predefined hierarchy of events. This paper proposes a new “site risk” concept that is defined as the risk associated to the whole construction site that is generated by having together different elements which individually affect risk. Potential risk synergies may exist and they only can be captured adopting the construction site as unit of analysis. In doing so, a new CONstruction Site Risk Assessment Tool (CONSRAT) is presented. This is done considering also both organizational structure and resources jointly with material conditions. The tool was used to assess 150 construction sites in order to obtain convergent and internal validity evidences. Another validated tool was used as external criterion: the Qualitative Occupational Safety Risk Assessment Model (QRAM). Results provide adequate validity evidences for both the internal structure and the expected relationships with the external criterion. CONSRAT design and complete instructions for its use are described. As a unique contribution, CONSRAT adopts a new site risk approach to assess the main live conditions, complexity factors and organizational structure characteristics which are related to construction site risk.

Quantitative assessment of occupational safety and health: Application of a general methodology to an Italian multi-utility company

The core of safety practice is the occupational safety risk assessment, which is quite often a complex process since it requires to take into account parameters that are often difficult to quantify. The European Council Directive 89/391/EC is concerned with the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). Among other issues, it deals with risk assessment and preventive measures.In this framework a novel methodology named M.I.M.O.SA. (Methodology for the Implementation and Monitoring of Occupational SAfety) has been developed with the aim of quantify the occupational health and safety level of a company and thus of its OHS Management System (OHSMS). The methodology was born within a project where a multi-disciplinary team discussed the main topics involved in occupational safety and finally a global index, which takes into account, among others, both technical and organizational aspects, was defined.In this work after a brief description of the key concepts of this methodology, it has been applied to one activity of an Italian multiutility company in order to test its applicability to a real case study. Once the performance of the OHSMS was assessed, thanks to the quantification of the different aspects that concur to its global level, it has been possible to identify the priority of interventions for improvements, so that the management process becomes more effective and efficient. In addition, from this first application of the methodology some issues emerged that could be useful for its future improvement.

QRAM a Qualitative Occupational Safety Risk Assessment Model for the construction industry that incorporate uncertainties by the use of fuzzy sets

Occupational safety risk assessment is the core of safety practices. Is a complex process that requires the consideration of sundry parameters, which are often difficult to quantify.This paper presents the new developed fuzzy QRAM model, which intends to support construction companies in carrying out their responsibilities to reduce occupational safety risks. The innovative aspects of QRAM model is to embody assess of the safety climate and the safety barriers effectiveness as assessment dimensions and the use of fuzzy sets theory to enhance the use of imprecise and incomplete information, elicited by linguistic variables.The QRAM model was designed based on the best academic and empirical knowledge about safety risks on construction industry, biomechanical data and laws of physics, chemistry and engineering.The lack of credible and accurate data, resulting from the in-depth investigation of work accidents in construction industry was the greatest difficulty in carry-out this work.QRAM was, firstly evaluated by “peer” review, with 12 safety experts from Brazil (2), Bulgaria (1), Greece (3), Turkey (3) and Portugal (3) and, then, appraised by comparing QRAM with 2 other occupational safety risk assessment techniques.The safety experts evaluators concluded that: (a) QRAM is a versatile tool to assess occupational safety risk assessment on construction sites; (b) the specific checklists for knowledge elicitation are a good aid and enhance the process objectivity, and (c) the use of linguistic variables is a better way to rate the risk factors thus to render the risk assessment process more objective and reliable.

Ensuring the Quality of Occupational Safety Risk Assessment

In work environments, the main aim of occupational safety risk assessment (OSRA) is to improve the safety level of an installation or site by either preventing accidents and injuries or minimizing their consequences. To this end, it is of paramount importance to identify all sources of hazards and assess their potential to cause problems in the respective context. If the OSRA process is inadequate and/or not applied effectively, it results in an ineffective safety prevention program and inefficient use of resources. An appropriate OSRA is an essential component of the occupational safety risk management process in industries. In this article, we performed a survey to elicit the relative importance for identified OSRA tasks to enable an in-depth evaluation of the quality of risk assessments related to occupational safety aspects on industrial sites. The survey involved defining a questionnaire with the most important elements (tasks) for OSRA quality assessment, which was then presented to safety experts in the mining, electrical power production, transportation, and petrochemical industries. With this work, we expect to contribute to the main question of OSRA in industries: "What constitutes a good occupational safety risk assessment?" The results obtained from the questionnaire showed that experts agree with the proposed OSRA process decomposition in steps and tasks (taxonomy) and also with the importance of assigning weights to obtain knowledge about OSRA task relevance. The knowledge gained will enable us, in the near future, to build a framework to evaluate OSRA quality for industrial sites.