AHP-based methodology for selecting safety devices of industrial machinery

• Published in: Safety science 2013-03, Vol.53, p.202-218
• Main Authors: Caputo, Antonio C., Pelagagge, Pacifico M., Salini, Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AHP; Biological and medical sciences; Criteria; Decision making; Devices; Hazards; Machinery; Machinery safety; Medical sciences; Methodology; Miscellaneous; Occupational medicine; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Ranking; Safety; Safety devices; Safety systems selection
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2012.10.006

► Safe machines make a major contribution to personnel safety on the workplace. ► A set of specific rating criteria is defined to assess safety devices alternatives. ► We present an AHP approach for choosing safety devices of industrial machinery. ► The method allows quick multiple-criteria ranking for decision making. ► It can be easily utilized by practitioners using spreadsheet software. Safe machines make a major contribution to personnel safety on the workplace. Safety of machines is often guaranteed or enhanced by safety devices. The choice of a safety device involves multiple criteria decision making and a ranking of alternatives according to often contrasting performance measures. In this paper, a systematic methodology for selecting safety measures aimed at reducing mechanical hazards of industrial machinery is presented. The method at first includes a classification of mechanical hazards and applicable safety devices, then introduces an exhaustive list of 15 factors useful to judge the suitability of safety devices for comparison purposes. A comparison of relative importance between the rating criteria is then carried out in the framework of the Analytic Hierarchy Process decision making approach, based on expert opinion, allowing unambiguous prioritization of the above decision making factors. This allows a rapid ranking of alternatives and the selection of the most suitable device for a given machine that suits the mission requirements and the preferences of the decision maker. An application example is included to demonstrate the utilization of the method.