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Three levels of assessment of indices of structural strength, reliability and durability of welded metal structures are considered for the construction of the integrity management system (IMS) of welded metal structures. Level 1 uses the criteria of the limit state of welded metal structures based on safety margin factors and is implemented by us using a failure assessment diagram. Level 2 of probabilistic analysis of safety and reliability involves the formulation and evaluation of the values of probabilistic indices used to assess the structural strength, reliability and durability of welded metal structures in the presence of uncertainty and lack of completeness of input data. For level 3 of the risk analysis of the operation of welded metal structures, an algorithm for its realization is proposed and an implementation option in the form of an IMS is prescribed. The two-criteria failure assessment diagram is the basis of the implementation of all three levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving hazards in maritime transport is essential to maintain the reliability and sustainability of the industry, ensure safety and security, and support global trade and economic growth. This paper is aimed at analyzing the hazards of passenger-cargo ferries (PCFs). The novelty of this paper is fourfold: (1) developing a revised risk matrix (RRM) model with considering the adaptability-based resilience of organization to assess PCFs' hazards, (2) identifying risk factors (RFs) in ferry navigation and developing adaptive strategies to mitigate hazards, (3) applying the fuzzy best–worst method (BWM) to determine the RFs' weight, and (4) employing the leading Taiwanese passenger-cargo ferry operator (the Taiwan-ferries case) as an empirical study to verify the proposed model. The empirical result can provide pragmatic information for ferry operators to improve the safety of their ferry navigations. Additionally, the proposed RRM model can provide a methodological reference for related research in hazard management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Serverless computing is one of the recent compelling paradigms in cloud computing. Serverless computing can quickly run user applications and services regardless of the underlying server architecture. Despite the availability of several commercial and open-source serverless platforms, there are still some open issues and challenges to address. One of the key concerns in serverless computing platforms is security. Therefore, in this paper, we present a multi-layer abstract model of serverless computing for an security investigation. We conduct a quantitative analysis of security risks for each layer. We observe that the Attack Tree and Attack-Defense Tree methodologies are viable approaches in this regard. Consequently, we make use of the Attack Tree and the Attack-Defense Tree to quantify the security risks and countermeasures of serverless computing. We also propose a novel measure called the Relative Risk Matrix (RRM) to quantify the probability of attack success. Stakeholders including application developers, researchers, and cloud providers can potentially apply these findings and implications to better understand and further enhance the security of serverless computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainstorm disasters cause serious threats to people's lives and property. Enhancing emergency response and decision-making capabilities for rainstorm disasters is necessary. In this paper, 87 rainstorm disasters worldwide were first analysed, and secondary events across 15 urban lifeline systems were summarized. Based on the obtained findings and the characteristics of rainstorm disaster evolution and complex network theory, a model of rainstorm disaster chains in urban lifeline systems was constructed, and both partial and overall analyses of this model were performed. With the use of the PageRank risk matrix method, quantitative node risk levels were calculated for different parts of the model, and complex network theory was applied to assess the overall chain risk. The results showed that the highest risk disaster chain was flood → houses submerged or collapsed → road damaged → traffic congestion or paralysis. The most important node was traffic congestion or paralysis, underlining the acute need for emergency response measures in urban traffic systems during rainstorm disasters. Overall, this research provides a crucial direction for preventing rainstorm disasters in urban lifeline systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate risk assessment is critical for organisations, especially in sectors such as the processed food sector in Colombia. This study addresses the identification and assessment of the main climate transition risks using an approach that combines fuzzy logic with several multi-criteria decision-making methods. This approach makes it possible to handle the inherent imprecision of these risks and to use linguistic expressions to better describe them. The results indicate that the most critical risks are price volatility and availability of raw materials, the shift towards less carbon-intensive production models, increased carbon taxes, technological advances, and associated development or implementation costs. These risks are the most significant for the organisation studied and underline the need for investments to meet regulatory requirements, which are the main financial drivers for organisations. This analysis highlights the importance of a robust framework to anticipate and mitigate the impacts of the climate transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a review of mathematical and engineering science foundation of the risk matrix (RM). The objective was to locate and evaluate information surrounding its use. RM is governed by number theory, set theory, metrology, and functional analysis, which explains the strengths and weakness of its use. Although incorrectly reported, ordinal multiplication rigidly sets the cell numeric allocation. No scientific support was found for changing the ordinal ranks, although one reduction is introduced. Existing evidence suggests that the RM is unreliable. An example is given. Suggestions for beneficial use of the RM are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the risk management process undertaken by two research organizations in Bucharest, Romania: The National Institute of Research and Development in Mechatronics and Measurement Technique, and The National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering. Following a comprehensive analysis, ten main risks were identified within the research departments related to project management. To assess the identified risks, the risk index method was employed. Experienced researchers with a background in research project management from the Biomedical Mechatronics and Robotics and Metallic, Composite, and Polymeric Materials departments evaluated their probability and impact. The assessed risks were then represented on the risk matrix to determine generic mitigation strategies. The findings indicate that the majority of risks faced by the organizations have both low probability and low impact, making them tolerable. However, some risks require urgent and effective mitigation methods. In addition to generic risk mitigation strategies, the article introduces specific mitigation solutions for each evaluated risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty alleviation is critical for sustainable development. Establishing a major public health emergency warning and prevention mechanism for poverty alleviation and marginal populations can effectively determine the overall risk situation and primary risk components in diverse regions. It is conducive to formulate specific policies for risk prevention and control of public health emergencies to prevent the occurrence of poverty relapses. Expert evaluation method is used to grade the risk impact and risk probability. Combined with the Borda ordinal value method to rank the importance of risk factors, a judgment matrix is constructed. The Analytic Hierarchy Process method is used to determine the weight of the risk module. And the impact risk of major health emergencies on poverty alleviation and marginal populations is comprehensively evaluated based on the quantified value of the risk impact level. The results indicate that the production and operation risks and unemployment risks in the case area have a relatively significant impact on poverty alleviation and marginal populations. Different regional government forces and regional economic development characteristics may also form different risk weights. Therefore, risk warning models should match government development and regional development goals and be established based on the characteristics of different regions. Effective risk control mechanisms and policies can only be developed based on the characteristics and behavioral traits of different populations in the region.

With the rapid increase in urban gas consumption, the frequency of maintenance and repair of gas pipelines has escalated, leading to a rise in safety accidents during these processes. The traditional manual supervision model presents challenges such as inaccurate monitoring results, incomplete risk factor analysis, and a lack of quantitative risk assessment. This research focuses on developing a dynamic risk assessment technology for gas emergency repair operations by integrating the monitoring outcomes of artificial olfactory for gas leakage information and video object recognition for visual safety factor monitoring data. To quantitatively evaluate the risk of the operation process, a three-dimensional risk assessment model combining gas leakage with risk-correlated sensitivity was established as well as a separate three-dimensional risk assessment model integrating visual risk factors with predictable risk disposition. Furthermore, a visual risk quantification expression mode based on the risk matrix-radar map method was introduced. Additionally, a risk quantification model based on the fusion of visual and olfactory results was formulated. The verification results of simulation scenarios based on field data indicate that the visual-olfactory fusion risk assessment method can more accurately reflect the dynamic risk level of the operation process compared to simple visual safety factor monitoring. The outcomes of this research can contribute to the identification of safety status and early warning of risks related to personnel, equipment, and environmental factors in emergency repair operations. Moreover, these results can be extended to other operational scenarios, such as oil and gas production stations and long-distance pipeline operations.

Abstract The imprecision inherent in human opinions is not properly modeled by crisp numbers. Other more complex structures like intervals or tuples capture better the imprecision of human assessments. This makes them very useful in decision problems. However, they cannot be easily compared. Despite they grasp better decision-makers inaccuracy, the lack of a natural total order for such structures makes the determination of the best alternative a difficult task. In this contribution, we explore how to obtain new total orders for (ordered) tuples paying special attention to admissible orders (total orders that extend the lattice order). The resulting orders are applied to four-dimensional ordered tuples that represent risk assessments in an imprecise environment. In addition, two case studies involving risk matrices in educational transport and the construction of a metro station are also provided.

In recent years, research and application of hydrogen fuel emergency power supply vehicle technologies have been steadily advancing. However, due to the highly flammable and explosive nature of hydrogen gas, the safety risk of hydrogen leakage has been taken seriously. Addressing the current inadequacies in the understanding of hydrogen leakage risks, unclear sources of risk, incomplete coverage of risk scenarios, and insufficiencies in risk assessment methods associated with hydrogen fuel emergency power supply vehicles, this study firstly establishes a multi-scenario and multi-factor coupled hydrogen leakage risk event database and an accident risk system. This effort focuses on the diversity of application scenarios, types of hydrogen leakage hazards and complexity of interfering factors. Subsequently, by refining existing risk assessment methods, a more balanced subjective-objective evaluation and more granular risk ratings approach, termed AET-RM, is proposed, which ensures finer risk grading. Finally, through this method, the types of hydrogen leakage hazards and their harm boundaries are clarified, achieving a systematic and precise graded quantitative assessment of risk sources, probabilities, and consequences. The study results indicate that the established event database contains no risk events rated as I (acceptable) or V (unacceptable). There are 37 events classified as low risk (rating II), accounting for 17.54% of the total. Medium-risk events (rating III) comprise 142 incidents, making up 67.30%, while high-risk events (rating IV) include 32 cases, representing 15.17%. The highest risk score, determined by the AET-RM method, pertains to a risk event in the power generation scenario, Contingencies: metal corrosion within the battery. • Summarized hydrogen leakage risk events and established a risk event repository. • Established a multi-scenario hydrogen leakage risk system. • Proposed a reasonable and sophisticated risk assessment method. • Analysis and evaluation of risk events for hydrogen fuel emergency power supply vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents innovative approaches to improving the risk management process in the context of developing a strategy for foreign economic activity of enterprise. To identify risks and choose the optimal strategy for foreign economic activity of enterprises (FEA), economic and mathematical modelling was used using the risk matrix and the criteria of Bayes, Laplace, Wald, Savage, Hurwitz, Hodge-Lehman. To approbate the results of the study, enterprises of the pharmaceutical industry were selected. According to the theory of games, in order to improve the risk management process, elements of the payment matrix have been applied, which characterize the profit of pharmaceutical enterprises in foreign economic activity. The use of the Hurwitz criterion, which is a criterion of pessimism-optimism, made it possible to choose the optimal strategy for the selected enterprises. The developed matrix of risks of foreign economic activity (strategic, operational, financial and external) for the selection of the optimal strategy of foreign economic activity through the use of economic and mathematical modelling should be used to determine the risks of the greatest impact at different stages of foreign economic activity using the theory of games. The presented matrix of risks of foreign economic activity is built for domestic enterprises of the pharmaceutical industry and is aimed at improving the process of risk management of foreign economic activity, which will enable enterprises of the pharmaceutical industry to predict risks at the early stages of activity and take into account in the general concept of the strategy of foreign economic activity of enterprises. The pharmaceutical industry of Ukraine was chosen for research because it is the most popular in modern conditions, and, according to the results of the analytical review, very high-risk. That is why the use of economic and mathematical modelling for risk calculation allows to optimize the economic behaviour of domestic pharmaceutical enterprises, while providing a reliable basis for making sound strategic decisions in the process of risk management in the context of developing a strategy for foreign economic activity. The risk management process, consisting of 7 stages and 18 steps, has been improved, and innovative tools have been proposed that facilitate the implementation of risk management in the enterprise in the process of developing a foreign trade strategy. The use of economic and mathematical modelling in risk forecasting and the formation of a foreign economic activity strategy will help enterprise managers to significantly increase management efficiency, reduce risks at the stage of planning foreign economic activity. The article improves the risk management process, which consists of 7 stages and 18 steps, and offers innovative tools that facilitate the implementation of risk management in the enterprise in the process of developing a foreign trade strategy. The use of economic and mathematical modelling in risk forecasting and the formation of a foreign economic activity strategy will help enterprise managers to significantly increase management efficiency, reduce risks at the stage of planning foreign economic activity.

One of the most pressing issues in the implementation of construction projects is the extension of planned deadlines, significantly impacting project costs. This situation often arises due to inaccurate estimation of construction durations, which rely on normative values without accounting for factors hindering construction progress. Consequently, this article aims to develop an innovative approach for assessing construction durations, considering specific risk factors and their influence on construction activities. Given the difficulty of determining risk factors and their effects during the design phase using classical probability theory, characterized by unknown probability distributions, it is highlighted that this scenario represents planning and implementation under conditions of non-statistical uncertainty. Therefore, the article proposes an approach utilizing elements of fuzzy set theory, particularly fuzzy rules and linguistic variables, to determine delays in individual construction tasks. The proposed approach involves estimating extensions of construction timelines based on a specified probability level of occurrence for risk events and their impact. Additionally, the article provides a theoretical description of the proposed approach and practical calculation examples, demonstrating that the authors' approach significantly enhances the accuracy of construction timeline forecasts, providing more reliable data for project planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional visual tree assessment method is subjective in evaluating tree risks and therefore not effective in precisely detecting internal decay in tree trunk and root systems. To improve the accuracy of street tree risk assessment, a new nondestructive testing method was proposed. This new tree risk assessment method combines different non-destructive testing technologies, such as sonic tomography and ground-penetrating radar, which could significantly increase the accuracy of risk assessment in tree trunks and roots. The method was applied to evaluate the risk of 1,001 street trees in Shanghai's historical feature protection area. The results revealed that despite most street trees having low branch and trunk risk levels, more than one-third had high root risk levels. The risk factors of street trees were mainly in the trunk and root system, with a significant correlation between the street tree risk level and tree cavities, diseases, and insect pests, as well as the depth and range of the root distribution, leaning, and internal decay in trunks. With the help of non-destructive testing and risk assessment analysis, as well as targeted prevention measures, the possibility of street risk damage was largely reduced, including street trees tilting and collapsing during typhoons, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wonogiri Regency, located in Indonesia, is an area susceptible to various types of natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, and hurricanes, which pose a significant risk to approximately 90% in this area. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the types of potential disasters in Wonogiri and propose effective strategies for disaster mitigation from 2021 to 2025. This study uses a risk matrix to quantify the risks associated with these potential disasters and utilizes House of Risk (HoR) phase 2 methodology to formulate strategies for disaster risk prevention. This comprehensive analysis has shown seven potential disasters for which nine mitigation strategies have been developed. Among these, the top three strategies, considering the effectiveness value and the degree of difficulty (EDRk) value, in order of priority, are “Increasing multi-stakeholder partnerships in disaster management” (EDRk value 176.20); “Strengthening the legal framework for disaster management” (EDRk value 167.40); and “Conducting socialization and education on disaster mitigation” (EDRk value 111.60). Implementing these strategies is expected to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) in regencies, with a focus on prioritizing the most effective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the reports created at assembly lines, where all components of an aircraft are installed, frequently indicate that errors threaten safety. The proposed methodology in this study evaluates error prediction and risk mitigation to prevent failures and their consequences. The results linked to a typical electrical harness manufacture of a military aircraft estimated reductions of 93% in time and 90% in error during the creation of engineering manufacturing processes using AI techniques. However, traditional risk assessments methods struggle to identify and mitigate errors effectively. Thus, developing an advanced methodology to ensure systems safety is needed. This paper addresses how innovative AI technology solutions can overcome these challenges, mitigate error risks, and enhance safety in aerospace. Technologies, such as artificial intelligence, predictive algorithms, machine learning, and automation, can play a key role in enhancing safety. The aim of this study is to develop a model that considers the factors that can potentially contribute to error creation, through an artificial intelligence (AI) approach. The specific AI techniques used such as support vector machine, random forest, logistic regression, K-nearest neighbor, and XGBoost (Python 3.8.5) show good performance for use in error mitigation. We have compared the modeled values obtained in this study with the experimental ones. The results confirm that the best metrics are obtained by using support vector machine and logistic regression. The smallest deviation between the measured and modeled values for these AI methods do not exceed 5%. Furthermore, using advancements in machine learning methods can enhance error mitigation in aerospace. The use of AutoML can play a key role in automatically finding an appropriate model which provides the best performance metrics and therefore the most reliable forecast for data prediction and error mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the application of a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management framework on a grid‐independent and renewable energy‐based electric vehicle charging station with multiple energy storage techniques including hydrogen and ammonia. The design comprises complex subsystems such as concentrated photovoltaic thermal, wind turbine, biomass standby generator, hydrogen storage, fuel cell, Ammonia storage and fuel cell, Lithium‐ion battery storage, Salt‐hydrate thermal storage, lithium‐bromide absorption cooling, and fast charging units. Systematic risk‐based approaches compromising multiple phases and qualitative and quantitative risk assessment techniques are applied to identify the causes and consequences of potentially critical events associated with the incorporated subsystems and components. The results show that out of 15 identified technical, economic, environmental, and health and safety risks, three health and safety risks were found unacceptable with risk values above 14. In contrast, three technical, three environmental, two health and safety, and one economic risks were found undesirable with risk values between 8 and 12. Appropriate preventive and protective measures are applied to lessen the high‐risk levels to acceptable safe limits below 6. Proper safety barriers and distances are considered while recommending the associated subsystems and components' optimal physical site distribution plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents innovative approaches to improving the risk management process in the context of developing a strategy for foreign economic activity of enterprise. To identify risks and choose the optimal strategy for foreign economic activity of enterprises (FEA), economic and mathematical modelling was used using the risk matrix and the criteria of Bayes, Laplace, Wald, Savage, Hurwitz, Hodge-Lehman. To approbate the results of the study, enterprises of the pharmaceutical industry were selected. According to the theory of games, in order to improve the risk management process, elements of the payment matrix have been applied, which characterize the profit of pharmaceutical enterprises in foreign economic activity. The use of the Hurwitz criterion, which is a criterion of pessimism-optimism, made it possible to choose the optimal strategy for the selected enterprises. The developed matrix of risks of foreign economic activity (strategic, operational, financial and external) for the selection of the optimal strategy of foreign economic activity through the use of economic and mathematical modelling should be used to determine the risks of the greatest impact at different stages of foreign economic activity using the theory of games. The presented matrix of risks of foreign economic activity is built for domestic enterprises of the pharmaceutical industry and is aimed at improving the process of risk management of foreign economic activity, which will enable enterprises of the pharmaceutical industry to predict risks at the early stages of activity and take into account in the general concept of the strategy of foreign economic activity of enterprises. The pharmaceutical industry of Ukraine was chosen for research because it is the most popular in modern conditions, and, according to the results of the analytical review, very high-risk. That is why the use of economic and mathematical modelling for risk calculation allows to optimize the economic behaviour of domestic pharmaceutical enterprises, while providing a reliable basis for making sound strategic decisions in the process of risk management in the context of developing a strategy for foreign economic activity. The risk management process, consisting of 7 stages and 18 steps, has been improved, and innovative tools have been proposed that facilitate the implementation of risk management in the enterprise in the process of developing a foreign trade strategy. The use of economic and mathematical modelling in risk forecasting and the formation of a foreign economic activity strategy will help enterprise managers to significantly increase management efficiency, reduce risks at the stage of planning foreign economic activity. The article improves the risk management process, which consists of 7 stages and 18 steps, and offers innovative tools that facilitate the implementation of risk management in the enterprise in the process of developing a foreign trade strategy. The use of economic and mathematical modelling in risk forecasting and the formation of a foreign economic activity strategy will help enterprise managers to significantly increase management efficiency, reduce risks at the stage of planning foreign economic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a three-dimensional risk matrix model designed for the analysis and prioritisation of critical risks in the context of resilience. Traditional risk assessment methods prevalent in information security, which typically juxtapose the likelihood and consequences of risks, are inadequate for fully capturing the intricacies of critical risks. The proposed threedimensional model addresses these shortcomings by cohesively integrating the dimensions of likelihood, impact and cost of risk management. This integration provides a holistic tool for resilient risk analysis that goes beyond the capabilities of traditional models. A key feature of this model is its ability to address the complexities associated with critical risks, which are often not adequately addressed by traditional risk matrices due to their stochastic nature and significant potential impact on organisational resilience. By incorporating budgetary constraints into the risk assessment process, the model enables a more objective and quantifiable approach to managing critical risks. It shifts the evaluative focus from a purely probabilistic perspective to a cost-value based assessment, emphasising the balance between potential benefits and mitigation expenditure. This approach not only refines the accuracy of critical risk assessment, but also enhances existing risk management practices, providing a more robust and strategic tool for managing organisational risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionRisk assessment and management in companies plays a significant role in the prevention section of any field. In the field of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), its inconsistent or incorrect application has a direct impact on the life and health of employees. In some companies, even today, it is not properly implemented and adequate procedures and methods are not used. The article discusses the development of a step-by-step procedure for risk assessment in industrial environments in the area of OHS.MethodsMain parts of the model and its steps present the partial results of a survey conducted on a sample of 500 small and micro enterprises in the field of risk assessment and the systematic procedure developed following the main survey results. The survey covered only enterprises located in the construction, manufacturing, transport and storage and agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors, which is also a significant statistical feature. Within the structure of respondents, statistical features such as: size of enterprise, sector, region by work are identified. Only enterprises with size by number of employees - micro enterprises from 1 to 9 employees and small enterprises from 10 to 49 employees - were included for the survey.ResultsNew elements of the methods were integrated into the developed systematic procedure, which was subsequently validated in 7 plants of the one company on the same position. The application of the developed model was verified by an expert group consisting of 7 members, an odd number, and the developed checklists and risk register were applied. On the basis of the verification, the model, checklist and risk register were corrected. In addition, the scoring method and the risk matrix were also used, but they did not contain new elements.DiscusionThe procedure is still in use today and employees have been trained to use it. On the basis of the developed methodology and the Checklist, the procedure has been transposed into the European OiRA tool and can be used by companies throughout the European Union.

Wonogiri Regency, located in Indonesia, is an area susceptible to various types of natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, and hurricanes, which pose a significant risk to approximately 90% in this area. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the types of potential disasters in Wonogiri and propose effective strategies for disaster mitigation from 2021 to 2025. This study uses a risk matrix to quantify the risks associated with these potential disasters and utilizes House of Risk (HoR) phase 2 methodology to formulate strategies for disaster risk prevention. This comprehensive analysis has shown seven potential disasters for which nine mitigation strategies have been developed. Among these, the top three strategies, considering the effectiveness value and the degree of difficulty (EDRk) value, in order of priority, are “Increasing multi-stakeholder partnerships in disaster management” (EDRk value 176.20); “Strengthening the legal framework for disaster management” (EDRk value 167.40); and “Conducting socialization and education on disaster mitigation” (EDRk value 111.60). Implementing these strategies is expected to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) in regencies, with a focus on prioritizing the most effective measures.

Acque Bresciane is a public company that manages the integrated water cycle for more than 580,000 inhabitants in the Province of Brescia, in the north of Italy, providing drinking water, waste water treatment, and sewer systems. Drinking water systems are supplied with different types of groundwater, springs, and surface water sources (from lakes and rivers) whose availability and quality can be affected by climate change events. A multidisciplinary team, in collaboration with the University of Milano Bicocca, developed a specific Water Safety Plan (WSP) risk matrix focusing on the evaluation of climate-related hazardous events and calculation of their likelihood of occurrence, also using thematic maps. Moreover, to reduce the residual risks, in the risk matrix, possible control measures are suggested, such as the activation of an emergency plan, the use of other water sources, storage tanks, and interconnection with other water distribution networks. This work shows a simple and effective tool that can be applied by drinking water utilities to evaluate climate-related catchment risks, using a WSP risk matrix, thematic maps, and possible control measures to reduce risks in terms of water quality and availability and to respond with resilience to changes. HIGHLIGHTS A risk assessment tool was developed to evaluate climate-related hazardous events in WSPs.; Three catchment matrices were developed for wells, springs, and surface waters.; Control measures were suggested to reduce the residual risks of climate change-related events.; The matrices can be replicated for all drinking water supply systems.; This simple and effective tool can be applied by all drinking water utilities.;

The changing and intensifying landscape of global, national, and local disaster risks, driven by socio-political, environmental, and technological shifts, underscores the critical need for risk assessment by international agencies and governments. The Risk Matrix, introduced in 1995, has been widely used for risk assessment in different contexts, lauded for its simplicity and effectiveness. This model relies on the core risk components of consequence and likelihood, making it a favored tool for risk managers. To enhance the precision of risk assessment, various adaptations and extensions of the risk matrix have emerged; while some indirectly address resilience aspects, none explicitly integrate resilience into the matrix. This paper explores the risk matrix and its extensions, advocating for the inclusion of resilience in risk assessment. It introduces an empirical approach to quantify resilience, through a survey targeting small and medium-sized businesses in Southern Ontario, Canada. By developing two types of risk matrices—one with resilience considerations and one without—our work demonstrates how resilience alters risk prioritization, highlighting the importance of preparedness. This research underscores the pivotal role of resilience in risk assessment and urges its explicit integration into risk matrices to enhance accuracy and efficacy. Through practical examples and empirical data, the paper builds a compelling case for the central role of resilience in modern risk assessment practices.

The world grapples with immediate crises like COVID-19, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, floods, droughts and wildfires. However, a longer-term crisis looms due to humanity's overstepping of planetary boundaries and its disruptive consequences. Growing awareness of the potential collapse of societies due to planetary boundary violations has prompted increased attention in the scientific literature. In the water sector, where infrastructure built today might persist during a future collapse, we must therefore ask ourselves how a (basic) level of water supply can be maintained in a collapsing society. This paper explores this question and proposes research directions to address it in the short to medium term. Despite the seeming remoteness of a societal collapse scenario, it is imperative to incorporate it urgently into water infrastructure research and planning. HIGHLIGHTS Environmentally induced societal collapse is an ignored risk for the water sector.; Research into potential consequences and strategies for deep adaptation are needed.; A four-stranded approach for this research is proposed, mirroring a prior one for research on worst-case climate change and systemic risks.;

The article discusses the key issues of internal control measures when choosing a counterparty during the formation of an innovative economy. The purpose of the study is to develop indicators characterizing the counterparty, as well as an innovative risk matrix used when choosing a counterparty and allowing to identify risks and visually represent the characteristics of the counterparty. To achieve this goal of the article, the following tasks were solved: indicators of economic stability and information support used when choosing a counterparty were proposed; An innovative risk matrix and risk assessment criteria have been developed that allow the organization to objectively assess the counterparty and conclude contracts on the principles of economic validity, reliability and integrity, significantly reducing economic risks. As a result of the conducted research, innovative methods of assessing the counterparty are proposed, which provide an opportunity to obtain its objective characteristics before concluding a business agreement, as well as to rank tax risks. The article uses the methods of a systematic approach, analysis and synthesis, as well as the method of expert assessments.

The traditional visual tree assessment method is subjective in evaluating tree risks and therefore not effective in precisely detecting internal decay in tree trunk and root systems. To improve the accuracy of street tree risk assessment, a new nondestructive testing method was proposed. This new tree risk assessment method combines different non-destructive testing technologies, such as sonic tomography and ground-penetrating radar, which could significantly increase the accuracy of risk assessment in tree trunks and roots. The method was applied to evaluate the risk of 1,001 street trees in Shanghai’s historical feature protection area. The results revealed that despite most street trees having low branch and trunk risk levels, more than one-third had high root risk levels. The risk factors of street trees were mainly in the trunk and root system, with a significant correlation between the street tree risk level and tree cavities, diseases, and insect pests, as well as the depth and range of the root distribution, leaning, and internal decay in trunks. With the help of non-destructive testing and risk assessment analysis, as well as targeted prevention measures, the possibility of street risk damage was largely reduced, including street trees tilting and collapsing during typhoons, etc.

Bord and pillar method of mining continues to be a major operation in India with about 160 mines producing 35 MT of coal. Owing to the exhaustion of near-surface deposits, environmental impacts and land acquisition issues associated with surface mining, underground coal mining is expected to take a leap in the next decade. Weak and layered roof strata in underground mining play a significant role in roof failures in development headings affecting both safety and productivity. Despite well-defined support design guidelines based on CMRI-ISM RMR, roof failures are still a cause of great concern. In this research, firstly, a risk matrix has been framed on the basis of stable and unstable roof conditions for evaluating the potentiality of roof failure. This was followed by the development of a modified Rock Mass Classification System (RMRdyn) considering Seismic velocity of rocks as one of the key parameters. A modified empirical relationship for rock load (RL) and a handy nomogram has been developed based on input parameters, namely, P-wave velocity, structural features, slake durability and groundwater condition. A guideline for roof support design has been framed based on rock load computed for RMRdyn values ranging from 25 to 70. The developed models have been validated by statistical tools. The study also presents the risk classes to enable rock engineers to design more rational support systems in coal mine development headings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acque Bresciane is a public company that manages the integrated water cycle for more than 580,000 inhabitants in the Province of Brescia, in the north of Italy, providing drinking water, waste water treatment, and sewer systems. Drinking water systems are supplied with different types of groundwater, springs, and surface water sources (from lakes and rivers) whose availability and quality can be affected by climate change events. A multidisciplinary team, in collaboration with the University of Milano Bicocca, developed a specific Water Safety Plan (WSP) risk matrix focusing on the evaluation of climate-related hazardous events and calculation of their likelihood of occurrence, also using thematic maps. Moreover, to reduce the residual risks, in the risk matrix, possible control measures are suggested, such as the activation of an emergency plan, the use of other water sources, storage tanks, and interconnection with other water distribution networks. This work shows a simple and effective tool that can be applied by drinking water utilities to evaluate climate-related catchment risks, using a WSP risk matrix, thematic maps, and possible control measures to reduce risks in terms of water quality and availability and to respond with resilience to changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A comprehensive qualitative risk assessment (QRA) was conducted at the Maan Nestlé Pure Life factory, encompassing its production, storage, and bottling sections. Through a meticulous review of records, analysis of activities, and examination of work procedures, potential hazards within the factory were identified and subsequently categorized using the risk matrix technique. In total, seventeen hazards were identified, of which seven were deemed high risk, eight medium, and two low. This assessment underscores the imperative for measures aimed at risk control, reduction, or elimination. The QRA's qualitative approach, while effective in broad hazard identification, may have led to an incomplete hazard inventory. Nonetheless, it proved instrumental in pinpointing safety hazards and informing the development of robust safety policies. These policies integrate considerations of human behavior and equipment failure, focusing on preserving product quality while safeguarding the business and its operators. Despite the presence of an unsafe workplace, the study revealed that the need for new infrastructure is non-essential. Instead, a series of modifications are recommended, including the replacement of defective roofs, installation of electrical rolls and lifts, segregation of chemical storage, personnel training, and various ergonomic and procedural adjustments. The study further advocates for a subsequent phase of analysis utilizing quantitative techniques such as fault tree analysis. This is particularly pertinent for hazards requiring specific root cause identification, enabling the determination of necessary safety controls to address these root causes and prevent hazard occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and their installation are essential to determine a general practice for specialized risk assessment, which reduces the danger linked and the solutions to avoid those hazards, which call mitigation strategies. This paper aims to present the risk assessment and mitigation strategies for large-scale Solar PV systems in developing countries. To achieve this, complaints-related data has been collected from well-known companies providing Solar PV to industrial and residential consumers. This paper presents insights on the repetitive complaints, potential risks identified, and their severity along with probability. Further, risk itigation strategies to resolve these complaints timely and significantly are listed by industry experts. Overall, the study briefed each risk, its detail, and classified the complaints in three different companies. industry experts. Overall, the study briefed each risk, its detail, and classified the complaints in three different companies.

This study first defined the concept of the water–energy–food nexus system risk (WEF-R). Then, the WEF-R evaluation index system was established from three aspects: stability, coordination, and sustainability subsystems. Finally, the set pair analysis-variable fuzzy set model was used to evaluate the risk levels of subsystems, and the risk matrix was applied to assess provincial WEF-R levels in China from 2009 to 2018. The results showed that the stability subsystem had the greatest influence on provincial WEF-R, followed by the sustainability subsystem. The provinces with a higher risk of the stability subsystem and lower risk of the sustainability subsystem were mainly centralized in southeast coastal and central regions, which were consistent with the provinces with better socio-economic development. The provinces with lower risk of the stability subsystem and higher risk of the sustainability subsystem were mainly concentrated in northwest regions, which correspond with the provinces with better natural resources endowment but lower socio-economic development. As for the temporal evolution of risk levels, the risk levels of the coordination and sustainability subsystems showed downward trends during the study period, while the risk level of the stability subsystem displayed a small fluctuation, and the provincial WEF-R level in China presented a decreasing trend. HIGHLIGHTS The water–energy–food nexus system risk (WEF-R) was defined as internal, nexus, and external risks.; The WEF-R evaluation index system was established from three aspects: stability, coordination, and sustainability subsystems.; Set pair analysis-variable fuzzy set model and risk matrix were applied to assess the risk levels of subsystems and the water–energy–food nexus system.; Provincial WEF-R in China presented a decreasing trend.;

The paper considers the risk management system of the operating organization in the process of maintenance and repair of nuclear power plants in Russia. The following main risks of the process are identified: an energy generation reduction due to extending outages and energy cost increase due to an increase in costs for repair and maintenance needs. The following measures for risk management of the process are considered: inspections of readiness for repair and repair quality, corporate support, development and revision of repair documentation, management of material and technical resources. The process efficiency indicators as indicators of risk tolerance are considered. An effectiveness assessment of the risk management system of the maintenance and repair process is presented. The key shortcomings are identified. The line of further research on shortcomings exclusion is formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Biomechanical risks are applications of repetitive moves, forces and postures that an individual adopts when carrying out a specific activity with the probability of suffering an incident, accident or occupational disease. Objective: To identify the biomechanical risks associated with musculoskeletal disorders in surgical instrumentators who work in sterilization centers in 5 health institutions in Barranquilla. Method: A descriptive study waas conducted with participation of 29 surgical instrumentators answering Kourinka's Nordic questionnaire, based on corresponding ethical principles. Results: 35% of those surveyed reported discomfort in the wrist, 32% discomfort in the dorsolumbar region, 21% experienced discomfort in the neck, and 14% experienced some type of discomfort or pain in the elbow or forearm. The danger and risk assessment matrix in two of the five institutions showed that the risk is very high in the processes of reception, preparation, packaging, sterilization, storage and delivery. Conclusions: The risks identified were: cargo handling affecting the lumbar area, forced postures in packaging and sterilization activities generating discomfort in the wrist. Diseases such as epicondylitis, foot pain, telangiectasia and carpal tunnel syndrome were evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production technology, having surpassed wild catch as a source of seafood. Yet, modern aquaculture is one of the riskiest businesses to enter as entrepreneurs, farmers or investors. As a result, it is critical to understand how aquaculture companies perceive risks, as well as their most relevant risk sources and management practices, as these are necessary steps toward creating a better environment for aquaculture development. Using a mixed-methods approach, the current study examines the perceptions of risk sources and risk management practices by European aquaculture companies. Our findings suggest that risk sources are rated differently depending on the type of company, withdiseases risks beingthe most important for closed-system land-based companies and grow-out sea-cage farms, while land-based companies using open or semi-open systems rated higher environmental risks, and full-cycle sea-cage the market and financial risks. Similarly, results show that there are differences in the ratings of risk management practices among the types of companies. The findings also indicate that land-based companies using open or semi-open systems and full-cycle sea-cage companies were more willing to take risks than other types of companies, while all types of companies consider aquaculture to be a risky business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper employs a comprehensive risk matrix approach to analyze the potential risks associated with the Orange Line Metro Rail Transit System (OLMRTS). The major focus of this study revolves around two critical safety variables: human error and equipment failure, with a particular emphasis on human error as the most significant contributing factor. The research methodology involves the development of risk assessment models based on various incident scenarios. To identify potential hazards and assess their severity, historical incident data from a range of sources was collected and analyzed. This data made it possible to identify a number of potentially hazardous circumstances that could have an adverse impact on OLMRTS depot operations. The frequency and severity of each hazardous event were carefully evaluated based on the historical incident data, providing valuable insights into the potential risks faced by the system. The key findings of this investigation highlight that human-related activities emerge as the most significant potential cause of risk within the context of OLMRTS. The data analysis indicates a high level of risk associated with human error, underscoring the importance of addressing and mitigating these risks to enhance the overall safety and reliability of the OLMRTS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk matrices communicate the likelihood and potential impact of risks and are often used to inform decision‐making around risk mitigations. The merits and demerits of risk matrices in general have been discussed extensively, yet little attention has been paid to the potential influence of color in risk matrices on their users. We draw from fuzzy‐trace theory and hypothesize that when color is present, individuals are likely to place greater value on reducing risks that cross color boundaries (i.e., the boundary‐crossing effect), leading to sub‐optimal decision making. In two randomized controlled studies, employing forced‐choice and willingness‐to‐pay measures to investigate the boundary‐crossing effect in two different color formats for risk matrices, we find preliminary evidence to support our hypotheses that color can influence decision making. The evidence also suggests that the boundary‐crossing effect is only present in, or is stronger for, higher numeracy individuals. We therefore recommend that designers should consider avoiding color in risk matrices, particularly in situations where these are likely to be used by highly numerate individuals, if the communication goal is to inform in an unbiased way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transactions of Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The fatigue life of ship structures is typically based on deterministic methods in which underlying uncertainties are only implicitly taken into account and not explicitly reflected. Guidance for a probabilistic assessment is provided in class documents, but the methodology is too time consuming to apply in design practice. This paper proposes a novel approach based on DNV-CG-0129 to incorporate uncertainties and consequences explicitly. Using a probabilistic model, tailored deterministic FAT classes are derived to be applied in design practice. A tailored FAT class should be selected based on an acceptable probability of failure related to the severity of the consequences of a failure for the ship. Results show that tailored FAT classes are strongly dependent on the uncertainties provided as input when using the calculation method of DNV-CG-0129. This emphasizes the need for careful consideration and specification of the uncertainties. Furthermore, application of the First Order Reliability Method for a sensitivity study shows that the global model uncertainty is governing over other uncertainties considered in DNV-CG-0129. The proposed approach enables a low-effort and transparent probabilistic-based method, leading to optimized and improved designs due to reduction of overdimensioning in non-critical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented article deals with the use and evaluation of individual risks of work in the environment of Slovak mining company. The mining company is also a manufacturing company. The company mines the raw material and the final product (clinker). The main goal of the article is to monitor the incidence of accidents over the last 10 years, to analyse the group of risks that have a significant impact on accidents in mining companies and to evaluate them. The Risk Matrix, shows the relationship between estimated consequences and probability of risks formation. The next step is to use the workplace Risk Assessment Method to define acceptable risks and minimize the impact on workers. Another method we used is the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) model. The output of the FTA model is the creation of a faulty tree, which resulted in the individual traumatized accidents that resulted in the definition of the resulting risk - namely a load injury.

The decommissioning project of a nuclear facility is a large-scale process that is expected to take about 15 years or longer. The range of risks to be considered is large and complex, then, it is expected that various risks will arise in decision-making by area during the project. Therefore, in this study, the risk family derived from the Decommissioning Risk Management (DRiMa) project was reconstructed into a decommissioning project risk profile suitable for the Kori Unit 1. Two criteria of uncertainty and importance are considered in order to prioritize the selected 26 risks of decommissioning project. The uncertainty is scored according to the relevant laws and decommissioning plan preparation guidelines, and the project importance is scored according to the degree to which it primarily affects the triple constraints of the project. The results of risks are divided into high, medium, and low. Among them, 10 risks are identified as medium level and 16 risks are identified as low level. 10 risks, which are medium levels, are classified in five categories: End state of decommissioning project, Management of waste and materials, Decommissioning strategy and technology, Legal and regulatory framework, and Safety. This study is a preliminary assessment of the risk of the decommissioning project that could be considered in the preparation stage. Therefore, we expect that the project risks considered in this study can be used as an initial data for reevaluation by reflecting the detail project progress in future studies.

The article presents a proposal for the use of a risk matrix for assessing the safety of the implementation of rail freight transport. The starting point for considerations related to risk assessment is the conditions arising from the business need and the obligation of entities operating in the railway market to ensure the safety of the implementation of freight tasks. The authors presented selected literature within the framework of the issues discussed. The layers of risk assessment, which include the analytical layer, the decision layer and the elimination layer, indicate the possibility of considering the problem of risk assessment from different perspectives. The identification of direct causes and consequences of undesirable events during the implementation of rail freight transport was also made. The article describes one of the methods of risk management which is the risk matrix. The authors stressed that the construction of a risk matrix should be preceded by an analysis of the factors that affect the safety of rail transportation. This is possible by determining their probability of occurrence and setting values for the consequences of adverse events. The article divides the assignment of levels of adverse events to a five-level risk matrix (slight, low, medium, high, very high). Also presented is a case study considering the risk assessment of rail freight transport in Poland using the risk matrix method for railway accidents in the area of railway lines. Thanks to the development of the risk matrix, a risk management strategy can be used. The last part of the article is a summary, which highlights the possibility of applying the presented approach to risk assessment among entities operating in the rail transport market.

Accidents are common in the petroleum industry. The risk of accidents can be easily minimized by understanding the harm early in the production system. This study presents a perception-based risk and safety analysis of petroleum production systems. Data were collected from three fields operated by Sylhet Gas Fields Limited in Bangladesh. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyze the data. The results were then subjected to a frequency analysis, an analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a reliability analysis. The frequency analysis indicated the overall safety situation, and the ANOVA models and reliability analysis substantiated the results. A chi-squared test indicated the association between the datasets. The outcomes of the risk matrix indicated various risk levels, such as low, moderate, and high. According to the implicit risks, necessary measures were recommended for the industry's future.