Multi-Dimensional Risk Assessment

Abstract

The International Labour Organisation has a systemic and overall approach to safe and health  on workplace topics. “5 key elements”, “SMART outputs”, “5 steps Risk Assessment”, are some of basic approaches suggested by this Institution. European Union has adopted this concepts to define some important procedures: “Safe System of Work (SSW)”, “People-Equipment-Material-Enviroment (PEME)” and “Permit To Work (PTW)”.

A careful analysis of accidents must be based on direct factors (primary causes) and indirect factors (secondary causes). Consequently, even a careful risk assessment must analyze and evaluate both factors, adopting a multi-dimensional approach.

The first part of the research, focused on the analysis of some indirect factors, such as ageing workers, newly hired workers, etc, introducing the concept of attention factors. In fact, these factors are not yet governed by the current national regulations within the risk assessment.

Following a systemic approach of SSW, the second part of the research is applied to a case study (construction site for a new aerospace building in Milan). Re-entering among the purposes of systematic, cyclicality and continual improvement of the measures to be taken to eliminate or reduce risks, a specific procedure has been drawn up to be associated with the scheduling and management of the site activities. Therefore, the analysis of indirect factors is performed by associating the work phase to be carried out with the employees that have these factors.

The result of the research carried out has highlighted a concept of the attention factor, which if previously assessed, can involve the activation of special worker protection procedures (e.g. Permit To Work).