Semi-quantitative Risk Assessment Research Articles

Theoretical semi-quantitative risk assessment methodology for tunnel design and construction processes

Theoretical semi-quantitative risk assessment methodology for tunnel design and construction processes

Salmonella in Wild Boar Meat: Prevalence and Risk Assessment in Central Italy (Umbria and Marche Region).

A survey was conducted from 2018 to 2023 to assess the presence of Salmonella in 280 hunted wild boar (carcasses after evisceration and skinning, N = 226; liver, N = 258; and fecal samples, N = 174). The overall prevalence was 2.86% (confidence interval 95%, 1.45-5.45%) with five positive samples detected in carcasses, three in the liver, and one in a fecal sample. This prevalence was in line with those found in nearby areas denoting a low number of positive samples. Positive animals were over 24 months of age and weighed, before skinning, 59.00 ± 9.11 Kg and no difference was detected in microbial loads between samples positive and negative for Salmonella (aerobic colony count of 4.59 and 4.66 log CFU/400 cm2, and Enterobacteriaceae count of 2.89 and 2.73 log CFU/400 cm2 (mean values) in positive and negative subjects, respectively). Salmonella Stanleyville was the most frequently isolated serotype. A semiquantitative risk assessment was conducted for the first time in game meat considering two products, meat cuts intended for cooking and fermented dry sausages. Only proper cooking can reduce the risk of ingestion of Salmonella to the minimum for consumers, whereas ready-to-eat dry sausages constitute risk products in terms of foodborne Salmonellosis (risk score of 64 out of 100).

Health Risk Assessment from Exposure to Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) at a Truck Tire Factory in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Occupational health risk assessments of exposure to VOCs still need to be extensively studied to improve the safety standards in the industry. Based on the monitoring of organic pollutants at various workstations in a truck tire factory in Jiangsu Province, both semi-quantitative and quantitative health risk assessment methods were employed to assess health risk levels. The findings indicated that VOCs were categorized into five classes, which included alkanes, aromatics, halocarbons, carbon disulfide, and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs). The highest concentration of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) was found in shaping workshop; alkanes were the most abundant class (74.2%), followed by aromatics (24.02%) and OVOCs (1.96%). Although the results of the semi-quantitative risk assessment showed that most of the organic compounds had low R values, various kinds of VOCs were detected; particularly, many harmful organic compounds (such as toluene, ethyl benzene) were detected in all the sampling sites. The quantitative risk in the calendering and vulcanizing workshop exceeded the acceptable level; both the carcinogenic risk of ethylbenzene in the tire-strip storage room, and trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene in the calendering workshop were unacceptable. Thus, the calendering and vulcanizing processes in rubber tire manufacturing should be priority-controlled processes.

Applying a semi-quantitative risk assessment on petroleum production unit

Applying safety means in the industry, especially in the petroleum industry is very important to maintain the industrial facility. A semi-quantitative risk assessment as Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) is used widely to quantify data after qualitative risk analysis as HAZOP using a simpler way than quantitative risk analysis ‘QRA’ as fault tree analysis ‘FTA’. This determines if a new safety integrity function ‘SIF’ is needed. This paper introduces a novel fuzzy logic system to solve the failure of crude oil shipping pumps. Several models are studied to select the most appropriate fuzzy membership functions. Results are compared with results from the LOPA model, which shows the advantages of using the proposed model to reduce the RRF for the potential hazard and achieve a simple and reliable control method.

Addition of selected cereal grains as non-dairy ingredients to dairy products: A microbiological risk assessment approach

The addition of cereal grains to dairy products in the dairy industry has the potential to contaminate final products with pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. In this study, the microbial risks involved in the addition of cereal grains to dairy products with low, intermediate, and high-water activity/moisture content were assessed using a semi-quantitative risk assessment method.The results showed that the most critical microbiological hazard in the selected cereal grains is Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) due to its ability to form spores and persist in cereal grains. The addition of cereal grains to dairy products with high water activity/moisture content such as liquid breakfast products were found to pose the highest theoretical risk, and processing mitigations, such as UHT, would need to be implemented. The results of this study have identified some knowledge gaps in conducting risk assessments and have also provided background information about the microbial risks involved in the addition of cereal grains to dairy products.

Configuring Taiwan’s highway bridge performance indicator: a semi-quantitative risk assessment approach

The Taiwan Bridge Management System (TBMS) calculates the condition index (CI) of every highway bridge in its inventory using the latest findings from biennial routine inspections. However, the computational approach for CI can yield skewed results and make a bridge appear healthier than it actually is. To address this issue, a highway bridge performance indicator called the bridge risk index (RI) is presented. The RI is determined by combining the risks associated with the failure of each bridge component, which are evaluated using a semi-quantitative risk assessment approach. This evaluation considers the probability and consequence of a bridge component’s failure as a function of a component's deterioration state and criticality to the bridge’s overall structural safety and serviceability, respectively. To validate the effectiveness of the RI, inspection data from a sample of seven highway bridges were extracted from the TBMS and used to compare the RI with the CI. The results showed that the RI and its associated parameters can mitigate the inherent issues observed with the CI. Hence, the RI has the potential to be a valuable decision-support tool for transport agencies that rely on similar routine inspection processes to enhance their bridge management systems.

Semi-quantitative health risk assessment of heavy metal dust exposure among nail technicians using the SQRA technique and Monte Carlo simulation.

Nail technology, including the application of artificial nails and nail care, is a developing sector of the global beauty industry. Nail technicians are exposed to a variety of chemical substances through inhalation, as they spend extended periods of time in close proximity to these materials. This study aimed to evaluate the semi-quantitative health risk of dust-containing heavy metals among nail technicians. This analytical descriptive study employed the risk assessment method provided by the Singapore Occupational Health Department to evaluate the health hazards of lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, and manganese. Dust samples from nail filing were collected from the respiratory zone of 20 nail technicians following the NIOSH 7300 method. The samples were analyzed using ICP-OES instrumentation. Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to characterize the risk and its uncertainties. Manganese and cadmium had the highest and lowest mean concentrations, respectively. The risk scores of the metals ranked from highest to lowest were as follows: . All five metals had risk rankings below 2.8, signifying a minimal risk level. Sensitivity analysis using Spearman's correlation coefficient demonstrated a positive relationship between concentration, daily hours of exposure, and the number of workdays per week with the risk score (RR) and exposure level (ER). Conversely, the variable of weekly working hours (W) showed a negative correlation with these parameters. Despite the low-risk level of the examined metals, continuous exposure and potential long-term effects on nail technicians warrant preventive measures. Recommendations include implementing local exhaust ventilation systems, using table fans, establishing work-rest cycles, wearing N95 dust masks, and using reputable and high-quality nail polishes.

A semi-quantitative risk assessment of remote handling operations on the SPES Front-End based on HAZOP-LOPA

A semi-quantitative risk assessment of remote handling operations on the SPES Front-End based on HAZOP-LOPA

Leukemia risk assessment of exposure to low-levels of benzene based on the linearized multistage model.

To assess leukemia risk in occupational populations exposed to low levels of benzene. Leukemia incidence data from the Chinese Benzene Cohort Study were fitted using the Linearized multistage (LMS) model. Individual benzene exposure levels, urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans, trans-muconic acid (t, t-MA) were measured among 98 benzene-exposed workers from factories in China. Subjects were categorized into four groups by rounding the quartiles of cumulative benzene concentrations (< 3, 3-5, 5-12, ≥12 mg/m3·year, respectively). The risk of benzene-induced leukemia was assessed using the LMS model, and the results were validated using the EPA model and the Singapore semi-quantitative risk assessment model. The leukemia risks showed a positive correlation with increasing cumulative concentration in the four exposure groups (excess leukemia risks were 4.34, 4.37, 4.44 and 5.52 × 10-4, respectively; Ptrend < 0.0001) indicated by the LMS model. We also found that the estimated leukemia risk using urinary t, t-MA in the LMS model was more similar to those estimated by airborne benzene compared to S-PMA. The leukemia risk estimated by the LMS model was consistent with both the Singapore semi-quantitative risk assessment model at all concentrations and the EPA model at high concentrations (5-12, ≥12 mg/m3·year), while exceeding the EPA model at low concentrations (< 3 and 3-5 mg/m3·year). However, in all four benzene-exposed groups, the leukemia risks estimated by these three models exceeded the lowest acceptable limit for carcinogenic risk set by the EPA at 1 × 10-6. This study demonstrates the utility of the LMS model derived from the Chinese benzene cohort in assessing leukemia risk associated with low-level benzene exposure, and suggests that leukemia risk may occur at cumulative concentrations below 3 mg/m3·year.

Application of Multiple Occupational Health Risk Assessment Models for Crystalline Silica Dust among Stone Carvers.

Silica is the most abundant substance on the Earth's crust and is a proven carcinogen. The aim of this study was to measure the occupational exposure of stone carvers to crystalline silica and to evaluate the health risks. Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 79 stone carvers. Inhalation air sampling was performed by the NIOSH7500 method and the amount of silica was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Semi-quantitative and quantitative risk assessments were performed using the methods of the Singapore Department and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), respectively. Mortality due to silicosis and lung cancer were estimated using the Manettej and Rice models. Data were analyzed using SPSS23 software. The mean exposure to total inhalable dust and crystalline silica among the stone carvers was 1.44 and 0.5 mg/m3, respectively. Exposure to total dust and silica was significantly higher than the occupational standard (P <0.0001). Stone carvers' exposure to silica was at very high-risk level, and the carcinogenicity of silica considering two cancer slopes was 7.40 × 10-6 and 3.12 × 10-7 and the risk of non-carcinogenicity was unacceptable. The mortality rate due to silicosis was between 3 and 12 people per thousand, and due to lung cancer was 150.24 people per thousand. Based on the results of risk assessment, serious control measures should be implemented in order to reduce workers' exposure to silica.

A study on the occurrence of human enteric viruses in salad vegetables and seafood and associated health risks for consumers in Mauritius.

Norovirus (NOV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) are human enteric viruses of major concern worldwide. Salad vegetables and molluscan shellfish are highly susceptible to contamination by NOV and HAV and can pose a health threat when consumed raw. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of NOV and HAV in lettuce, watercress, tomatoes, and oysters using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and assess the health risks associated with the consumption of these commodities by semiquantitative risk assessment. The occurrence of NOV in vegetables ranked in the following decreasing order: lettuce (36%) > watercress (16%) > tomatoes (4%). However, HAV was more frequently detected in watercress (56%), compared to lettuce or tomatoes (12%). Additionally, NOV was detected in oysters (60%). The risk assessment exercise pointed to a medium-risk score of contracting a foodborne illness of viral origin for consumers eating fresh watercress or oysters. Future research will ascertain the presence of these enteric viruses in a broader range of food commodities.

Semi-quantitative risk assessment for workers exposed to occupational harmful agents in an oilfield in Iran.

Workers are exposed to occupational health hazards from physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychological agents. Assessing occupational health risks is vital for executing control measures to protect employees' health against harmful occupational agents. The present study aimed to identify, evaluate, and prioritize occupational health risks to assist senior management in determining where to allocate the budget to carry out the required corrective actions in the oilfields project. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed in 2021 among Iran's Sarvak Azar oil field job groups. The occupational health risk was assessed using the Harmful Agents Risk Priority Index (HARPI) as a semi-quantitative method. Then, to simplify decision-making and budget allocation, we reported HARPI final score in the Pareto principle format. The results show that in this oil field, controlling exposure to adverse lighting, improving the thermal conditions and ergonomics, and preventing noise exposure has the highest priority, with scores of 6342, 5269, 5629, and 5050, respectively. Production, HSE, laboratory, and commissioning need the most health care measures with scores of 8683, 5815, 5394, and 4060, respectively. HARPI could be used to prioritize occupational health hazards, and this method can simplify managers' decisions to allocate resources to implement control measures.

A Practical Tool for Risk-Based In-use Compatibility Assessments

In drug development, in-use compatibility studies are crucial steps to ensure that the critical quality attributes of the drug product are maintained when in contact with administration components. But once the drug is in clinical trials, unanticipated variations in these components can stretch limited resources and lengthen timelines to market, as these changes must be assessed and approved to ensure continued patient safety. It's desirable to use a science-based risk evaluation to determine the extent of data and testing needed in these situations, but there is no standard for how such evaluations are done. We have developed an Excel™-based semi-quantitative risk assessment tool to determine whether in-use testing is needed when drug delivery sites or components are changed during a clinical trial. We developed the tool based on our multi-company experience with compatibility studies for many types of drug products targeted for various geographic regions. We have employed the tool as a means to expedite decision-making and, if appropriate, reduce testing in low-risk situations. The tool can save significant time and effort (our estimate is approximately at least 6-9 months off the development cycle) and can minimize pitfalls in clinical administration. While we have designed the tool for our drug products and for use with parenteral dosing regimens, the tool can be adapted for other situations as needed. It will be especially useful for companies with more limited resources.

Risk Analysis in Energy Program Management

Risk management is one of the best precautionary interventions undertaken in various sectors to minimize the consequence that accrues whenever risks or crises occur. Risk assessment is the first step in the risk management process, and it leads to risk identification, which is followed by risk evaluation to understand the magnitude and possible impact of the risk in case it occurs. Risk assessment and management in the energy sector are not exceptional since risks related to energy are usually catastrophic and lead to loss of life and destruction of the environment. The increase in risks related to energy use and the complexity of managing such risks necessitates the adoption of appropriate risk assessment and risk evaluation mechanisms to guarantee high-quality speculation and forecasting. This report focuses on the use of a semi-quantitative risk assessment approach and the threat-based risk assessment approach. Each of these techniques uses a different paradigm but they all offer invaluable findings regarding risks in the energy sector to enable effective prioritization of such risks when designing interventions.

Presenting a Semi-quantitative Model Based on the Resiliency Engineering Management Commitment Index in Assessing the Level of Preparedness Against Emergency Situations of Hospitals in a Fuzzy Environment (Case Study: Selected Faraja Hospitals in 2021)

Background and Objective: The main index in resilience engineering is the management commitment index. This study implemented a semi-quantitative risk assessment method based on the fuzzy hierarchical analysis method for the management commitment index to evaluate the resilience level of two selected hospitals. Materials and Methods: First, evaluation tools were designed, and their validity was determined. They included a 17-question hierarchical analysis questionnaire, a four-question management commitment risk assessment form, and a two-question integrated management commitment risk assessment form with safety, health, and environment. They were then distributed at Al-Ghadir Hospital in Tabriz and Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital in Bandar Abbas (affiliated with Faraja) and analyzed with relevant statistical methods. Results: The evaluation of the fuzzy hierarchical analysis questionnaire showed that the level of resilience had increased from 15.25 in 2018 to 36.37 in 2019. Additionally, the levels of social readiness, sharing, and resilience risk were 0.97, 0.17, and 0.03 in Al-Ghadir Hospital and 0.96, 0.11, and 0.04 in Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital, respectively. Moreover, the cumulative readiness value of management commitment based on safety, health, and environment in these two hospitals was 0.81 and 0.74, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results, it is suggested that the selected hospitals focus on the effective parameters introduced in the evaluation tools of this study to increase their resilience level.

Presenting a Semi-quantitative Model Based on the Resiliency Engineering Management Commitment Index in Assessing the Level of Preparedness Against Emergency Situations of Hospitals in a Fuzzy Environment (Case Study: Selected Faraja Hospitals in 2021)

Background and Objective: The main index in resilience engineering is the management commitment index. This study implemented a semi-quantitative risk assessment method based on the fuzzy hierarchical analysis method for the management commitment index to evaluate the resilience level of two selected hospitals. Materials and Methods: First, evaluation tools were designed, and their validity was determined. They included a 17-question hierarchical analysis questionnaire, a four-question management commitment risk assessment form, and a two-question integrated management commitment risk assessment form with safety, health, and environment. They were then distributed at Al-Ghadir Hospital in Tabriz and Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital in Bandar Abbas (affiliated with Faraja) and analyzed with relevant statistical methods. Results: The evaluation of the fuzzy hierarchical analysis questionnaire showed that the level of resilience had increased from 15.25 in 2018 to 36.37 in 2019. Additionally, the levels of social readiness, sharing, and resilience risk were 0.97, 0.17, and 0.03 in Al-Ghadir Hospital and 0.96, 0.11, and 0.04 in Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital, respectively. Moreover, the cumulative readiness value of management commitment based on safety, health, and environment in these two hospitals was 0.81 and 0.74, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results, it is suggested that the selected hospitals focus on the effective parameters introduced in the evaluation tools of this study to increase their resilience level.

Occupational Health Risk Assessment for Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Kanpur, India.

The treatment and reuse of wastewater for irrigation can lead to occupational health risks for sewage treatment plant (STP) workers and farmers. Sanitation Safety Planning (SSP) is an approach which can be used to measure and mitigate these risks. This paper explores what impact a novel secondary treatment process, consisting of an integrated permeate channel (IPC) membrane combined with a constructed wetland plus, has on the occupational health risks compared with the existing activated sludge wastewater treatment process and reuse system in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A mixed methodology was used, which included key informant interviews, structured observations, and E. coli analysis. This data was used to undertake semi-quantitative risk assessments following the SSP approach. The novel secondary treatment increased the number of health risks which the STP workers were exposed to, but the severity of the risks was lower. This was due to the differences in treatment processes and infrastructures. The number of health risks for the farmers decreased both in number and severity. For their children, the severity of the health impacts decreased. These changes were due to the increase in the microbiological quality of the irrigation water. This study highlights the potential of using a semi-quantitative risk assessment to assess the occupational health impacts of using novel treatment technologies.

Vulnerability to overfishing of fish stocks in the Amazon Basin

Tropical fisheries are generally multispecific and require management approaches that are adapted to the high diversity exploited, but data series are scarce. An alternative to this scenario is the use of semi-quantitative ecological risk assessments, with productivity and susceptibility analysis (PSA) being one of the most widespread globally. In this study, using data from 3211 questionnaires, the PSA was applied to assess the vulnerability to overfishing of 37 commercially exploited fish species in seven fishery landing points in the Amazon Basin. Vulnerability remained between 0.9 and 2.6, with Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, Pinirampus pirinampu and Zungaro zungaro being the most vulnerable species (V > 2.0) in all the sampled sub-basins. Given the complexity of regional fishery interactions, it is emphasized that the PSA proved to be an efficient alternative for an initial assessment of the risk of overfishing. A holistic approach, with new or improved current regulations, should have a positive impact on stocks; thereby decreasing the risk of overfishing and the potential loss of economic and social benefits by the population of the region.

Semi-quantitative landslide risk assessment of district Muzaffarabad, northwestern Himalayas, Pakistan

Semi-quantitative landslide risk assessment of district Muzaffarabad, northwestern Himalayas, Pakistan

Occupational injuries and risk assessment among stone crushing industry workers: a cross-sectional study.

The prevalence of occupational injuries among blue-collar workers is higher in the stone-crushing industries due to high-risk and iterant nature of the work. These occupational injuries, in turn, caused workers' ill health, as well as death, which eventually diminish the gross domestic product. We aimed at assessing the attributes of occupational injuries and the risk associated with the hazards in the stone-crushing industry. This study utilized a questionnaire base cross-sectional survey that was conducted from September 2019 to February 2020. Data were collected from 32 stone-crushing factories of Eastern Bangladesh and analyzed to show their relationship with different variables. The risk levels associated with the frequent hazardous events were measured using a Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Matrix. Most of the injuries were found to occur between 12:00 and 16:00h. Nearly a fifth of the injuries were serious or critical in nature, caused the workers to be absent at least a week. Exposure to excessive dust, working without personal protective equipment (PPE), and improper lifting and handling techniques caused one-third of injuries. Wrist and hand/fingers, back and lower back, feet/toe, eye, knee, arm, neck and head, and ankle were found as most injured body parts. The primary cause of most injuries was the workers' failure to use PPE. All major hazardous events were found to possess a high-risk level. Our finding suggests that stone crushing is one of the most hazardous industries and the practitioners must consider the findings when implementing a risk avoidance policy.