Barriers of Risk Management in East Azerbaijan Industries: A Qualitative Study

Rasoul Ahmadpour-geshlagi; Hadi Ahmadi  Vafa; Ramin  Abbasi; Parisa  Moshashaei; Mahdi  Firouzi; Mostafa  Javanmardi; Seyed Shamseddin  Alizadeh

doi:10.18502/jhsw.v15i4.21462

Rasoul Ahmadpour-geshlagi Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Hadi Ahmadi Vafa Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Management (HSE), Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Ramin Abbasi Department of HSE, Sungun Copper Mine Complex, National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO), Iran
Parisa Moshashaei Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Mahdi Firouzi Department of HSE, East Azerbaijan Province Gas Company, Iran.
Mostafa Javanmardi Standardization Department, National Iranian Gas Company, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Shamseddin Alizadeh Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jhsw.v15i4.21462

Keywords: Risk Management, Risk Assessment, ISO 31001, Safety, Risk.

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational diseases and workplace accidents have significant financial impacts onindustries, communities, and nations each year. Risk assessment is considered an effective tool formanaging these issues; however, many organizations fail to implement it successfully. This study exploresthis challenge from the perspective of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) officers.

Material and Methods: In this study, 30 Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with HSEofficers. Inductive content analysis was used for analyzing interviews. After analyzing the interviews, thecodes in the interviews were categorized. To ensure credibility and transferability, participant checkingand consultations with experts in the field of risk assessment were conducted.

Results: After analyzing the interviews, seven main categories were identified, each comprising severalsub-categories. The main categories included: Resources, Technical Knowledge, Legal and RegulatoryBarriers, Cultural Issues, Absence of Risk-Based Thinking in the Organization, Individual Issues, and Lack ofInteraction and Communication.

Conclusion: This study revealed that seven major barriers hinder the implementation of risk managementsystems and the execution of risk assessments in the industries of East Azerbaijan Province. These obstaclescan directly affect the identification, analysis, and control of risks, ultimately reducing the effectivenessof occupational health and safety processes. Therefore, to conduct effective risk assessments andenhance safety levels in industrial environments, it is essential for policymakers, industry managers, andregulatory bodies to accurately identify and analyze these barriers and develop appropriate solutions toaddress them. Moreover, designing and implementing educational programs, restructuring managementsystems, and strengthening interactions between regulatory organizations and industries can contributeto improving risk assessment processes and safety management in this sector