Implementation of integrated occupational health and safety risk assessment methods, checklist and matrix methods, to a construction site

In 2007, 80,602 work accidents, 1208 cases of occupational diseases had occurred in Turkey, 1044 of which have resulted in death. It is estimated that, developing countries have an economic loss up to 4% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to work accidents and occupational diseases. According to GDP figures received in 2007 from Turkey Statistics Institute (TURKSTAT), the total cost of work accidents and occupational diseases per year is approximately 35 billion TL in Turkey. Occupational health and safety (OHS) legislations, those were configured in accordance with the new approach directives of European Union (EU), gives the responsibilities to the employer on the prevention of occupational diseases and accidents at work. Satisfying the requirements of responsibilities and authority of employers is possible only with an accurate and efficient risk assessment. Today more than 150 methods of risk assessment are being used. Most often used methods are, checklist which is a qualitative method and matrix which is a quantitative method.This thesis of master of science provides usage of these two different methods, which are qualitative and quantitative, in an integrated way. Additionally, the consolidation of a successful risk assessment study was carried out by this thesis. By using checklist, compliance with the OHS legislations is examined and matrix method was used to determine the hazards and evaluate the risks arising from the work area. Integrated format of checklist and matrix methods were implemented to an upper structure construction site, so that construction industry is one of the first three sectors in work accident and occupational diseases resulting in death and severe injuries in Turkey, As a result of the study it is observed that, separately usage of these methods results in an overlook of some hazards and by using a combination of both methods much more successful risk assessment was carried out.