Hazard assessment using consistent fuzzy preference relations approach

The construction sector is known as one of the most hazardous work places worldwide. Hazard identification and its assessment are the most important tasks of safety management. Based on a review of the existing literature, this study identifies 10 hazardous trades and their 39 attributes to assess the project hazard level. Most of the existing studies assess the hazards using the probability approach, which needs reliable established data that in most cases are not well maintained. This study uses the possibility approach (fuzzy set theory) and proposes a methodology to compute the hazard index representing the hazard level of projects. This methodology is based on the judgments and perceptions of respondents, and it uses the consistent fuzzy preference relations (CFPR) method to determine the relative weights of 10 hazardous trades and their 39 attributes. Fuzzy set theory is used to determine the risk impact of attributes. Thus, the hazard index for a given attribute is determined by a combined analysis of the overall relative importance and risk impact of hazardous trades' attributes. The proposed methodology is illustrated by examining a metro rail construction project. By empirical analyses, the proposed methodology is validated and checked for its applicability by studying the relationship between project hazard level (hazard index) and corresponding safety budget. In comparison to existing methods, the proposed method is simple, speedy, and more consistent in computing the hazard index of a project.