Muṭāli̒āt-i Mudīriyyat-i Ṣan̒atī (Mar 2024)
Identification and quantitative analysis of occupational health and safety risks in sustainable construction projects under Neutrosophic space
Abstract
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management significantly affects reducing costs, increasing productivity, and the social credibility of construction companies and plays a facilitating role in the transition towards sustainable development. This study aims to identify and quantitatively analyze OHS risks in sustainable construction projects in Iran. To do this, first, common OHS risks are identified by conducting library studies. Then, these risks are screened and localized for Iran's sustainable construction projects by surveying 13 experts, selected by the snowball sampling method, in a focus group meeting. Afterward, each risk's importance and priority are determined using the Neutrosophic Group Best-Worst Multi-criteria (NGBWM) method, while applying a weight to each expert's opinion. The Neutrosophic sets theory provides the basis for obtaining accurate and more reliable results by considering the uncertainties in the experts' opinions. The findings showed that "the lack of sufficient safety skills of employees due to not allocating time to specialized safety training," "occupational injuries and diseases," "hazards caused by improper design and layout of the project site," "Weakness and inefficiency of occupational health and safety management personnel," and "Negligence and lack of planning for emergency maneuvers," with weights of 0.052, 0.036, 0.035, 0.032, and 0.028 respectively, are the most critical OHS risks in Iran's sustainable construction projects. Finally, reactive and preventive responses were proposed to face them in detail.IntroductionThe construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries worldwide, and Iran is no exception. According to reports from Iran's official institutions, 30-35% of work-related accidents occur in the construction sector. Furthermore, analysis of construction accidents indicates that 22% of accidents occur in the stages of preparation and demolition, while 61% occur during the construction phase (Alipour-Bashary et al., 2021). Research has revealed that sustainable construction projects pose a greater risk to health and safety than conventional construction processes. The health and safety of workers are essential aspects of social sustainability. However, the importance of health and safety risk assessment in sustainable construction projects is still in its early stages (Onubi et al., 2019). Given the complexity and challenges in the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risk assessment environment, it is crucial to develop a suitable mechanism for identifying and measuring safety risks in sustainable construction projects. This would enable finding the best solutions for risks that have a high probability of occurrence and severe consequences. The current research aims to answer the following main question: What are the key OHS risks in sustainable construction projects in Iran and the appropriate response and preventive actions for them?Literature eviewReviewing previous research shows that while risk management in construction projects is not a new concept, the focus on the safety of construction projects in recent years is a relatively recent development. Furthermore, with leading international companies in the construction industry increasingly embracing sustainable development, there is a growing interest in integrating safety risk management with sustainable practices, making this perspective unique and novel. Previous studies on the safety risks of construction projects have typically categorized these risks within the dimensions of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), often neglecting other dimensions of safety risks. In contrast, the current research proposes to combine the three aspects of sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental) with the dimensions of HSE, thereby offering a more comprehensive framework for organizing the safety risks of construction projects. A significant research gap in this field lies in the evaluation and quantitative analysis of identified risks. To address this gap, the current research employs the Neutrosophic Group Best-Worst Multi-criteria (NGBWM) method, which involves weighting experts' perspectives to provide a more robust and reliable assessment of safety risks.MethodologyThe current research was applied with a purposeful and descriptive survey approach. Data were collected from 13 project managers and executive officials in Iran's sustainable construction projects, sampled using the snowball method. Semi-structured interviews and two researcher-made questionnaires were employed to gather the required data. The research objectives were pursued through a proposed methodological framework comprising five main phases. In this study, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risks in sustainable construction projects were evaluated and analyzed within a neutrosophic space and through group decision-making. Following the identification of the final risks, the Neutrosophic Group Best-Worst Multi-criteria (NGBWM) method was applied using the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) to measure importance and determine high-ranked risks. The group decision-making approach aimed to mitigate bias in results and enhance decision accuracy by leveraging collective wisdom. Implementing the NGBWM method in the neutrosophic space helped reduce uncertainty in subjective judgments and enhance decision accuracy through the use of three or four-point estimates and consideration of possibility functions for experts' opinions. ResultsAccording to the results, 45 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risks were identified for Iran’s sustainable construction industry. The application of the Neutrosophic Group Best-Worst Multi-criteria (NGBWM) method revealed that risks such as "lack of sufficient safety skills of employees due to not allocating time to specialized safety training," "occupational injuries and diseases," "hazards caused by improper design and layout of the project site," "Weakness and inefficiency of OHS management personnel," and "Negligence and lack of planning for emergency maneuvers," respectively, had the most significant importance and the highest ranks, with weights of 0.052, 0.036, 0.035, 0.032, and 0.028.DiscussionThe inadequacy of specialized training programs in the field of safety has been identified as the root cause of many OHS risks in Iran’s sustainable construction projects. The role of the human resources unit in enhancing and nurturing a skilled and knowledgeable workforce in the principles and standards of safety in sustainable construction projects is more crucial than ever. It is imperative to prioritize the quality of work and personal life of human resources. Designing an efficient incentive system, providing health insurance for employees, conducting periodic check-ups, and offering comprehensive training programs can serve as preventive measures to mitigate the occurrence of injuries and occupational diseases. These proactive steps not only enhance workplace safety but also contribute to the overall well-being and productivity of the workforce in sustainable construction projects.ConclusionThe occurrence of safety risks in sustainable construction projects is multifaceted and does not solely stem from individual carelessness or unexpected accidents. Instead, these risks originate from various areas including social, managerial, structural, and health domains. Consequently, solely focusing on OHS risks in a one-dimensional manner and lacking a systematic and comprehensive view of this issue hinder managers and decision-makers from accurately understanding and analyzing the main sources of risks and implementing appropriate preventive measures.
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