Workplace Risk Factors Assessment in North-Azadegan Oil Field Based on Harmful Agents Risk Priority Index (HARPI)

Abstract

Background: Considering the necessity of health risk management, the present study conducted to provide a comprehensive model for identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing occupational health risks in an oilfield.
 Methods: We conducted this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study in 2022 at the North-Azadegan oil field in Iran. The occupational health risk was assessed using the "Harmful Agents Risk Priority Index" (HARPI) method.
 Results: Among the employees for the office section in all job groups, ergonomic risks due to people's posture while working has the highest risk score and is the most critical risk for implementing corrective actions. In the operational section, for the HSE group, benzene, the production group, Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), and other groups, undesirable lighting has the highest risk score, and exposure to Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes (TEX) has the lowest risk score. In this oil field, controlling exposure to benzene, correcting ergonomic conditions, and controlling noise exposure, with scores of 81.3,74.85 and 71.36, have the highest priority, respectively. Sequentially, Toluene, Xylene, and ethylbenzene, with scores of 10.25,11.61, and 11.61, have the lowest control priority.
 Conclusion: The proposed model can prioritize the workplaces' harmful agents based on the HARPI score due to exposure to chemicals, physical factors, and analysis posture.