Title: A fuzzy AHP-based approach for assessing the faulty behaviour risk at workplace

Authors: Maria Grazia Gnoni; Vincenzo Duraccio; Raffaello Iavagnilio

Addresses: Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy ' University Nicolò Cusano, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi, 3, 00166 Roma, Italy ' Department of Mechanics Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic of Bari, Bari, Italy

Abstract: Occupational accidents could negatively affect the productivity and competitiveness of industrial firms. Technical and human-based factors (e.g., preparation of employees, risk perception) have to be evaluated for effectively assessing human error impacts in the overall occupational safety level. The paper proposes a method to assess, in an effective way, faulty behaviour risk (FBR) at workplace; the proposed approach aims also to support the continuous improvement process required by current standards (e.g., OHSAS 18001). The tool applies a fuzzy AHP-based approach to characterise FBR under the influence of technical and organisational criteria. Fuzzy logic has been adopted to add more realistic judgments - compared to 'traditional' AHP-based models - aiming to increase FBR assessment. A test case is proposed to validate the approach. Obtained results will allow safety managers and researchers to identify quantitatively impacts on the overall risk level at workplace due to human behaviour.

Keywords: occupational safety; human error; faulty behaviour risks; FBR; fuzzy AHP; analytical hierarchy process; FAHP; occupational accidents; employee behaviour; risk assessment; continuous improvement; fuzzy logic; workplace risk levels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2016.075759

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2016 Vol.10 No.2/3/4, pp.291 - 305

Received: 22 Mar 2015
Accepted: 16 Nov 2015
Published online: 01 Apr 2016 *

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