Identifying high-frequency–low-severity construction safety risks: an empirical study based on official supervision reports in Shanghai

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangbin Wang ◽  
Muyang Liu ◽  
Dongping Cao ◽  
Dan Tan

PurposeFew of the established risk identification methods refer to low-severity yet high-frequency safety risks data that may lead to several safety risks being ignored, thus reducing the potential of learning from a considerable number of cases. The purpose of this study is to explore a new valid method based on preaccident safety supervision data to identify these minor construction safety risks during routine construction operations.Design/methodology/approachA total of 329 official construction safety supervision reports containing 5,159 safety problem records from Shanghai between 2016 and 2018 served as raw material for in-depth analysis. Given the characteristics of the data collected, text mining integrated with natural language processing was applied to review the supervision reports and group safety risks automatically.FindingsThis study clarifies the way in which the supervision data should be employed to analyze high-frequency–low-severity safety risks. From these data, seven unsafe-act-related and nine unsafe-condition-related risks are identified. Regarding unsafe-act-related risks, inappropriate human behaviors could usually occur in personnel management, contract management, expense management, material management and acceptance work. For unsafe-condition-related risks, hoisting, scaffolding and reinforcement works are the main generators of onsite safety hazards during construction operations.Practical implicationsThe study includes implications for project managers and supervisors to facilitate more effective proactive risk management by paying more attention to collecting and employing the supervision data established in each routine inspection.Originality/valueWhereas previous research focused on analyzing severe accidents, this study seeks to identify the high-frequency–low-severity construction safety risks using the preaccident supervision data. The findings could provide a new thought and research direction for construction safety risk management.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Michael Brunner-Kirchmair ◽  
Melanie Wiener

Purpose Inspired by new findings on and perceptions of risk governance, such as the necessity of taking a broader perspective in coping with risks in companies and working together in interactive groups with various stakeholders to deal with complex risks in the modern world, the purpose of this paper is looking for new ways to deal with financial risks. Current methods dealing with those risks are confronted with the problems of being primarily based on past data and experience, neglecting the need for objectivity, focusing on the short-term future and disregarding the interconnectedness of different financial risk categories. Design/methodology/approach A literature review of risk governance, financial risk management and open foresight was executed to conceptualize solutions to the mentioned-above problems. Findings Collaborative financial risk assessment (CFRA) is a promising approach in financial risk governance with respect to overcoming said problems. It is a method of risk identification and assessment, which combines aspects of “open foresight” and the financial risk management and governance literature. CFRA is characterized as bringing together members of different companies in trying to detect weak signals and trends to gain knowledge about the future, which helps companies to reduce financial risks and increase the chance of gaining economic value. By overcoming organizational boundaries, individual companies may gain the knowledge they would probably not have without CFRA and achieve a competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications A conceptual paper like the one at hand wants empirical proof. Therefore, the authors developed a research agenda in the form of five propositions for further research. Originality/value This paper discusses the existing problems of financial risk identification and assessment methods. It contributes to the existing literature by proposing CFRA as a solution to those problems and adding a new perspective to financial risk governance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 574-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mecit Can Emre Simsekler

PurposeRisk identification plays a key role identifying patient safety risks. As previous research on risk identification practices, as applied to patient safety, and its association with safety culture is limited, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate current practice to address gaps and potential room for improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe authors carry out interview-based questionnaires in one UK hospital to investigate real-world risk identification practices with eight healthcare staff, including managers, nurses and a medical consultant. Considering various aspects from both risk identification and safety culture practices, the authors investigate how these two are interrelated.FindingsThe interview-based questionnaires were helpful for evaluating current risk identification practices. While gaining significant insights into risk identification practices, such as experiences using current tools and methods, mainly retrospective ones, results also explicitly showed its link with the safety culture and highlighted the limitation in measuring the relationship.Originality/valueThe interviews addressed valuable challenges affecting success in the risk identification process, including limitations in safety culture practice, training, balancing financial and safety concerns, and integrating risk information from different tools and methods.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazleena Badurdeen ◽  
Mohannad Shuaib ◽  
Ken Wijekoon ◽  
Adam Brown ◽  
William Faulkner ◽  
...  

Purpose – Globally expanding supply chains (SCs) have grown in complexity increasing the nature and magnitude of risks companies are exposed to. Effective methods to identify, model and analyze these risks are needed. Risk events often influence each other and rarely act independently. The SC risk management practices currently used are mostly qualitative in nature and are unable to fully capture this interdependent influence of risks. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology and tool developed for multi-tier SC risk modeling and analysis. Design/methodology/approach – SC risk taxonomy is developed to identify and document all potential risks in SCs and a risk network map that captures the interdependencies between risks is presented. A Bayesian Theory-based approach, that is capable of analyzing the conditional relationships between events, is used to develop the methodology to assess the influence of risks on SC performance Findings – Application of the methodology to an industry case study for validation reveals the usefulness of the Bayesian Theory-based approach and the tool developed. Back propagation to identify root causes and sensitivity of risk events in multi-tier SCs is discussed. Practical implications – SC risk management has grown in significance over the past decade. However, the methods used to model and analyze these risks by practitioners is still limited to basic qualitative approaches that cannot account for the interdependent effect of risk events. The method presented in this paper and the tool developed demonstrates the potential of using Bayesian Belief Networks to comprehensively model and study the effects or SC risks. The taxonomy presented will also be very useful for managers as a reference guide to begin risk identification. Originality/value – The taxonomy developed presents a comprehensive compilation of SC risks at organizational, industry, and external levels. A generic, customizable software tool developed to apply the Bayesian approach permits capturing risks and the influence of their interdependence to quantitatively model and analyze SC risks, which is lacking.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianrong Hou ◽  
Xiaofeng Zhao

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to develop a methodological framework for supply chain risk management using the hierarchical holographic modeling approach. It analyses supply chain risks in a systematic manner and develops a hierarchical methodology for identifying, prioritizing and managing the potential supply chain risks.Design/methodology/approachThis research reviews supply chain risk management literature and develops a conceptual framework, which outlines general principles and guidelines for managing risks in a systematic manner. Through decomposition, the complexity of supply chain risk can be identified by analyzing smaller subsystems.FindingsThe paper provides a conceptual framework to identify supply chain risks from multiple overlapping perspectives. The structured filtering and ranking procedure enables decision-makers to focus on the most critical risks. The research shows that the supply chain risks associated with the sub-systems within the hierarchical structure contribute to and ultimately determine the risks of the overall supply chain system.Research limitations/implicationsThe risks associated with each sub system within the hierarchical structure can contribute to and determine the risks of the overall supply chain system. Further applications in various companies and industry sectors would benefit supply chain managers on a case-by-case basis.Practical implicationsThe hierarchical risk identification framework can serve as guidance for applications to specific supply chain systems and processes. The framework from a holistic overlapping perspective can efficiently and effectively help supply chain managers identify supply chain risks and facilitate the evaluation of the subsystem risks.Originality/valueThe paper applies system thinking in supply chain management and presents an efficient and practical framework for supply chain risk identification and evaluation.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh KT ◽  
Sarada Prasad Sarmah

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to study and examine the influence of systematic supply risk management (SRM) on the buyer's firm performance, mainly focussing on the Indian electronics industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study has framed a set of hypotheses on the risk management model. A thorough literature review and experts' opinion were considered in framing constructs and hypothesis for the model. We adopted self-administration questionnaires mainly focusing on the Indian electronics industry. The derived hypothesis is tested using partial least squares (PLS) method from 140 survey data pertaining to small, medium and large scale industries.FindingsStudy justify that constructs with high loadings for risk identification, risk assessment, risk reduction, and risk monitoring supports all hypothesized relation to better risk management. The model captures superior risk identification, risk control and risk monitoring for overall firm performance, but fails to justify with organization supply risk assessment process on overall firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study mainly focused on SRM process on firm performance. Study mainly focused on single survey responses and expert's perceptions on SRM practices in Indian electronics industry.Practical implicationsResearch empirically justifies the effects of SRM process on organization performance. Furthermore, effective SRM practices assist decision makers framing corrective strategies to mitigate risk occurrences and their negative impact.Originality/valueThis empirical work provides a deep understanding of SRM process on the Indian electronics industry and their perception towards firm performance. Moreover, this is one of the few empirical studies addressing SRM practices in the Indian electronics industry.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mecit Can Emre Simsekler ◽  
Gulsum Kubra Kaya ◽  
James R. Ward ◽  
P. John Clarkson

Purpose There is a growing awareness on the use of systems approaches to improve patient safety and quality. While earlier studies evaluated the validity of such approaches to identify and mitigate patient safety risks, so far only little attention has been given to their inputs, such as structured brainstorming and use of system mapping approaches (SMAs), to understand their impact in the risk identification process. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the inputs of a well-known systems approach, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), in identifying patient safety risks in a real healthcare setting. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in a newly established adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder service at Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust in the UK. Three stakeholders of the chosen service together with the facilitators conducted an FMEA exercise along with a particular system diagram that was initially found as the most useful SMA by eight stakeholders of the service. Findings In this study, it was found that the formal structure of FMEA adds value to the risk identification process through comprehensive system coverage with the help of the system diagram. However, results also indicates that the structured brainstorming refrains FMEA participants from identifying and imagining new risks since they follow the process predefined in the given system diagram. Originality/value While this study shows the potential contribution of FMEA inputs, it also suggests that healthcare organisations should not depend solely on FMEA results when identifying patient safety risks; and therefore prioritising their safety concerns.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 550-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mourad Salim Aouati ◽  
Rachid Chaib ◽  
Irina Cozminca ◽  
Ion Verzea

Purpose Today, methods and risk analysis tools are used to argue decisions concerning issuance of operating licenses, risk management and development of action and emergency plans. In practice, a company is looking for a tool to help in decision-making and in the development of action plans. Thus, the creation of a safe working environment is essential to a company’s success and is one of the best ways to attract/retain staff and increase productivity. It should then set up a kind of funnel sieve that allows understanding all risks to keep only the most significant, which should be given priority. Thus, global risk management should be based on an accurate diagnosis of all company risks. This diagnosis can be formalized in the form of a risk map. The latter is crucial because it raises the overall risk identification, assessment, prioritization and prioritization of action. It is an essential component of any company’s risk management processes. The objective is to have an overall inventory (entity, system, process, activity, etc.) of the vulnerabilities of all fields of activity. It offers a simple and didactic presentation, giving an overview to decision-makers to guide their strategic choices of action. This mapping is then used to monitor the effectiveness of strategies implemented, forming, in a very relevant tool for communication, the objective assessment of this work. So, the purpose of this study is to describe a methodology for comprehensive risk analysis, called risk map. The purpose of this work is to provide a decision support tool to identify areas of weaknesses to allow setting priorities for action to be undertaken by the company to improve the working conditions by organizational, technical and human solutions while engaging in a process of continuous improvement. Design/methodology/approach The proposed approach for the development of a risk map comprises five stages: risk identification, where the starting point is the identification of the main company processes or, alternatively, the main company activities; exhibition evaluation, the company counts then evaluate the most important risks that affect their processes or activities and persons; evaluation and prioritization of risks; action plan, the company implements the action plan developed on the basis of the prioritization of risks and the company identifies the solutions implemented to reduce the risk and evaluates; and actions control. Findings This study allows making an image of overall places with vulnerabilities inside the company by a simple and didactic representation, facilitating the promotion of a culture of communication regarding the company vulnerabilities. The development of this risk mapping allowed the development of a very useful tool of communication on the inventory for formulating a risk appetite and determining the risk profile. It is a tool for decision and action whose purpose is the improvement of working conditions by organizational solutions, technical and human resources for the health and safety of employees while engaging in a process of continuous improvement. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study include the lack of competence in risk concepts. It is enough to have a pludisciplinary team to highlight the various dangers and move to the priorities and engage in a process of continuous improvement. Practical implications The approach detailed in this study can be used in any entity. One just needs to have skills. Social implications Low level of work accidents, a pleasant working environment, a very good motivation, a good productivity at work. Originality/value This work intends to reflect the concrete situation in which companies face the risks. It is interested in the relations between scientific expertise and the precautionary principle. It is a tool that guarantees the success of any preventive approach in a company. It is a decision-making tool for identifying areas of weakness to establish priorities for action by a company whose aim is to improve the working conditions through organizational, technical and human resources while engaging in a process of continuous improvement.


Author(s):  
Noraznira Abd Razak ◽  
Zuriah Ab Rahman ◽  
Halimahton Borhan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus, explore, and provide an in-depth analysis of the relationship between company resources and the process of enterprise risk management (ERM) in order to strengthen corporate structures against emerging uncertainties. Design/methodology/approach – This paper proposes a strategic risk management framework for the development and sustainability of corporate performance by focussing on the dimension of firm resources extracted from the resources-based theory. This paper focussed on using Malaysia listed firms under Malaysian Bourse as sample frame using the random sampling technique whereby questionnaire were distributed among head of risk management department. Of the 600 questionnaires distributed, 223 were returned completed. Findings – The survey results indicate that intangible resources play a significant roles in resources – performance relationship while the other two main dimension that are tangible resources and capabilities have shown contradictory results. Research limitations/implications – This paper only focussed on using Malaysia listed firms under Malaysian Bourse as sample frame. Practical implications – The management of risk is a dynamic phenomenon and the change of management that parallel with its evolution demand a revisiting and revamping over and over again promptly. In order to adapt and survive the volatile environment time and again, the effort to ensure long-term sustainability has to be made by the firm as success and failure can quickly replace one another in a relatively short period. The results highlight the various insight that might be helpful to managers in terms of managing the performance of the firm by concentrating entirely on its risk management and resources managements process. Originality/value – Overall it was shown that only certain dimension of resources within the firm has strong relationship with the performance variation. As such, the company has to ensure that deployment of resources has to be optimized accordingly by focussing on the types of resources that matters so that possibility of improving the outcome of the firm in the volatile global environment can be realized.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berenger Yembi Renault ◽  
Justus Ngala Agumba ◽  
Nazeem Ansary

Purpose Demographics are perceived to influence risk management practices (RMPs) in construction. However, empirical evidence supporting this perception is lacking in the South African Construction Industry (SACI), especially within small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study, therefore, aims to investigate the influence of demographic characteristics on RMPs. Design/methodology/approach This study followed a positivist research philosophy, using a questionnaire survey for data collection. In total, 225 questionnaires were distributed, of which 187 were returned from conveniently sampled respondents, which included owners and senior managers of construction SMEs organizations in Gauteng province in South Africa (SA). In total, 181 questionnaires were usable, yielding a response rate of 80.44%. Data from the survey were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics i.e. multiple regression analysis (MRA). The outputs were represented using percent and regression coefficients values, respectively. Findings In total, 42 practices were established from the literature review and grouped into 9 major RMPs. The data analysis suggested that understanding the organizational environment, defining objectives, resource requirements, risk measurement, risk identification, risk assessment, risk response and action planning, communication and monitoring and review are reliable and valid practices. Findings from MRA established that demographic characteristics i.e. experience in the construction industry (CI), education level and the number of employees in the organization are not good predictors to determine the use of RMPs. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to the data acquired from the SACI and to a lesser extent, construction SMEs in Gauteng. Therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to all SMEs in SA. Though neighboring and developing countries can use the RMPs identified in this study, the results cannot be directly used in developed countries without adequate substantiation. Practical implications The current study provides useful information to assist construction organizations to pay more attention to risk management implementation. The RMPs established in this paper are reliable and valid in projects undertaken by SMEs, and therefore, may be used by top management and/or the risk task team of these enterprises for effective project risk management. Originality/value The study presents findings of an investigation of the influence of demographics on RMPs from the perspectives of construction SMEs, an area less explored. This work advances knowledge of RMPs in the SME sector. It, therefore, adds value to researchers and industry practitioners on the theme where no agreement has been attained relating to key factors and practices that should constitute a risk management model.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1055 ◽  
pp. 297-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhan Gang Su

With the continuous development of economic level and the construction technology and progress, safety accident frequency is becoming more and higher, but now does not specifically for high-rise housing construction project the life cycle of the comprehensive security risk management research. From the high-rise building construction engineering safety construction and the basic theory and method of risk management, for high-rise building construction in the process of project construction safety risk identification, analysis and evaluation, explores the solution to the corresponding security risk effective management countermeasures.


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