An Application of Risk Analysis in Liquid Cargo Terminals for Occupational Health and Safety Management

Abstract

Liquid cargo terminals present numerous risks related to occupational health and safety (OHS). These OHS risks may result from the cargo handled and the services provided. Risks must be eliminated or maintained at an acceptable level to ensure a safe working environment in liquid cargo terminals. This study aims to identify risks in liquid cargo terminals, conduct risk analysis using different methods for the identified risks, and determine which method is most suitable for liquid cargo terminals among those used in risk analysis. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), fuzzy AHP, 5x5 L-type matrix, and Fine Kinney methods were used for risk analysis. The advantages and disadvantages of each method were identified and compared. According to the risk analysis, “environmental pollution and spatial problems,” a sub-criterion of the unloading operation, was calculated as the most important in the AHP method. In contrast, “damaged tanks, tank containers, or IBC tanks” was identified as the most important in the fuzzy AHP method. In both AHP and fuzzy AHP analyses, “liquid chemical cargoes” were the riskiest type of cargo. “Generation of static electricity” was calculated as the hazard with the highest risk score in the 5x5 L-type matrix and Fine Kinney methods. In these methods, “crude oil-oil derivatives” had more hazards at very high-risk levels than other types of cargo when compared by load type. A combination of the Fine Kinney and fuzzy AHP methods is recommended for liquid cargo terminals. The available literature reveals a significant lack of comprehensive and holistic risk analysis studies on liquid cargo terminals. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature by identifying liquid cargo terminal risks and comparing the risk analysis methods used.