Risk assessment of maintenance operations: the analysis of performing task and accident mechanism

Abstract

Maintenance operations cover a great number of occupations. Most small and medium-sized enterprises lack the appropriate information to conduct risk assessments of maintenance operations. The objective of this research is to provide a method based on the concepts of task and accident mechanisms for an initial risk assessment by taking into consideration the prevalence and severity of the maintenance accidents reported. Data were gathered from 11,190 reported accidents in maintenance operations in the manufacturing sector of Andalusia from 2003 to 2012. By using a semi-quantitative methodology, likelihood and severity were evaluated based on the actual distribution of accident mechanisms in each of the tasks. Accident mechanisms and tasks were identified by using those variables included in the European Statistics of Accidents at Work methodology. As main results, the estimated risk of the most frequent accident mechanisms identified for each of the analysed tasks is low and the only accident mechanisms with medium risk are accidents when lifting or pushing with physical stress on the musculoskeletal system in tasks involving carrying, and impacts against objects after slipping or stumbling for tasks involving movements. The prioritisation of public preventive actions for the accident mechanisms with a higher estimated risk is highly recommended.

Risk Assessment Methods in Mining Industry—A Systematic Review

“…In [122], this problem was analyzed with the use of a fuzzy logic-based safety evaluation method. However, in work [123], the authors proposed a method for risk assessment of mining machines, taking into account reliability and maintenance constraints. The issue on reliability was also analyzed in work [124].…”

Ranking of management factors for safe maintenance system based on Grey Systems Theory

“…In particular, employees should be involved in the initial risk assessment as well as in the risk assessment at various stages of the task they perform. Employee participation in the basic assessment and learning the guidelines on how to carry out a risk assessment at different stages of maintenance work will allow employees to better understand the work process itself and possibly carry out risk assessment adjustments already during the performance of tasks (Carrillo-Castrillo et al 2015;Wijeratne et al 2014;An et al, 2009).…”

“…Enterprises must not only provide a high-quality product at a competitive price, but also ensure environmental protection and safety for people working in various positions (Alsyouf, 2004). The hazards to which maintenance workers are exposed can be very specific depending on the task being performed, but most generally they include physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial hazards (Niciejewska and Kiriliuk, 2020;Kapustka, et al, 2020;Carrillo-Castrillo et al, 2015;Tabor, 2014). Chronic exposure to certain groups of threats can cause serious health problems such as asbestosis, cancer, hearing problems, skin diseases, respiratory diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders; and consequently lead to a higher rate of sickness absenteeism than usual (Tabor, 2014;Blaise et al, 2014;Lind and Nenonen, 2008).…”

The Use of LOTO (Lock-Out Tag-Out) For Preventing Occupational Accidents Among Heavy Equipment Mechanics

“…Kehadiran mesin dapat memberikan banyak manfaat, namun sebaliknya, dalam hal operasional yang digunakan, kehadirannya telah meningkatkan kemungkinan terjadinya kecelakaan. (18) Kecelakaan dapat terjadi jika dalam menangani mesin, energi sisa di mesin tidak dapat dikendalikan dengan baik dan aman. Oleh karena itu, energi harus dilepas atau diisolasi secara elektrik untuk menghindari tiba-tiba memindahkan alat berat atau mesin.…”