Mohandes, S R; Durdyev, S; Sadeghi, H; Mahdiyar, A; Hosseini, M R; Banihashemi, S and Martek, I (2023) Towards enhancement in reliability and safety of construction projects: Developing a hybrid multi-dimensional fuzzy-based approach. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(6), pp. 2255-2279. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: In the study, a five-dimensional-safety risk assessment model (5D-SRAM) is developed to improve the construction safety risk assessment approaches available in the literature. To that purpose, a hybrid multi-dimensional fuzzy-based model is proposed, which provides a comprehensive ranking system for the safety risks existing in a project by considering the contextualization of the construction-related activities resulting in an accident. Design/methodology/approach: The developed 5D-SRAM is based on an amalgamation of different fuzzy-based techniques. Through the proposed fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, the importance weights of essential risk dimensions playing role in defining the magnitude of the construction-related risks are obtained, while a precise prioritized ranking system for the identified safety risks is acquired using the proposed fuzzy technique of order preference similarity to the ideal solution (FTOPSIS). Findings: Through the application of the proposed 5D-SRAM to a real-life case study – which is the case of green building construction projects located in Hong Kong – contributions are realized as follows: (1) determination of a more complete range of risk dimensions, (2) calculation of importance weightings for each risk dimension and (3) obtainment of a precise and inclusive ranking system for safety risks. Additionally, the supremacy of the developed 5D-SRAM against the other safety assessment approaches that are commonly adopted in the construction industry is proved. Research limitations/implications: The developed 5D-SRAM provides the concerned safety decision-makers with not only all the crucial dimensions that play roles toward the magnitude of safety risks posing threats to the workers involved in construction activities, but also they are given hindsight regarding the importance weights of these dimensions. Additionally, the concerned parties are embellished with the final ranking of safety risks in a more comprehensive way than those of existing assessment methods, leading to sagacious adoption of future prudent strategies for dealing with such risks occurring on construction sites. Originality/value: Numerous studies have documented the safety risks faced by construction workers including proposals for risk assessment models. However, the dimensions considered by such models are limited, generally constrained to risk event probability combined with risk impact severity. Overlooking other dimensions that are essential towards the calculation of safety risks' magnitude culminates in overshadowing the further adoption of fruitful mitigative actions. To overcome this shortcoming, this study proposes a novel 5D-SRAM.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction safety; construction workers; fuzzy ahp; fuzzy topsis; safety risk assessment |
| Index terms: | proposal, construction site, strategy, risk impact, construction project, methodology, green building, construction safety, preference, Hong Kong, case study, fuzzy topsis, construction activity, risk assessment, dimension, construction worker, construction industry, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process |
| Subjects: | project planning, construction operations, health monitoring assessment and metrics, work location, practitioner, data collection methods, industry analysis, decision-making and optimization, environmental health, environmental hazards, Geography, production management, financial risk, design practice, management, research methods, decision-making and reasoning |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Site Management, Health and Safety, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here