Risks and risk assessment methods in industrial maintenance in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Studies on industrial maintenance operations worldwide have identified several maintenance specific risks such as working at heights, the pressure of time, etc. However, there is a dearth of published research on risks and risk assessment methods in industrial maintenance in the case of Sri Lanka. This study therefore aims at identifying the risks and risk assessment methods in industrial maintenance in Sri Lanka. The main objectives of the study were to identify the occupational risks and safety issues in maintenance work and the risk assessment methods in place in the Sri Lankan context. This was undertaken through a study of three manufacturing organisations which are involved in producing fastmoving consumer products. According to the findings, the risks which affect maintenance work can be categorised as organisational risks, unsafe acts and local workplace risks. The findings indicate that the most typical risks associated with maintenance are cuts, slips and falls, with severe or fatal injuries the result of worker disregard for standard operating procedures and/or failure to use the protective equipment provided. It was also found that check lists, brainstorming, and decomposition techniques are the preferred methods in maintenance for risk identification while a risk-rating matrix is used for risk analysis. The findings of the study highlight the safety risks entailed in the maintenance operations of manufacturing organisations and the risk assessment tools used in identifying the risks. The findings of the research will be useful for those in industrial maintenance operations for the purpose of managing risks effectively by designing work environments that are risk-fee and for educating workers on the importance of paying due attention to risks and the need to follow instructions that are in place on safety procedures in the workplace.