Risk assessment of human risk factors in port accidents

Abstract

Risk assessment is the process of identifying and evaluating risks or hazards. It serves as the main component in an effective safety management system, as well as in accident prevention and control. In Malaysia, the existing hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk control frameworks have been established to promote and motivate the industry in the implementation of a risk management system. In this paper, seven human risk factors were analyzed using the modified risk calculation method by introducing Frequency and existing control measures in the calculation. Based on the risk calculated, it was found that there were two risk factors in the significant category, which were human carelessness and omissions (R3), and worker’s individual experience (R7). Meanwhile, operators’ mistakes and faults on operations (R1), communication misunderstandings (R2), and execution of the job safety rules and regulations (R4) were in the moderate category. Worker’s individual workload and stress (R5) and worker’s individual discipline (R6) were in the acceptable category. The new risk matrix was also introduced, whereby the recommendation risk control shall be made based on its category. Based on the new risk calculation method suggested, the modified risk calculation method should help the organization do better decision-making, and prioritize the risks based on the risk category suggested.