Theoretical framework for the new and emerging occupational risk modeling and its monitoring through technology lifecycle of industrial processes

Abstract

Besides traditional occupational risks (TR), industrial processes can generate other risks described by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) as “new and emerging risks” (NER). The basic definition of NER is that of “any occupational risk that is both new and increasing”, existing several studies carried out by the EU-OSHA where the set of the above mentioned risks is identified and analyzed, both general and specific. However, as demonstrated in recent studies, the direct use of this set of NER in risk assessment techniques, generally applied in industrial processes and in particular those characterized by advanced technology, may result in the identification of TR instead of NER, mainly due to the fact that they have been defined without following a risk reference model. In order to solve this problem, a risk model that improves and complements the EU-OSHA’s NER definition has been developed with the abovementioned investigations. However, this model has two limitations. First, the model does not contemplate the possibility of considering independently the new risks (NR) and increasing risks (IR). Second, this model does not allow monitoring NER evolution over time, therefore it is not currently possible to determine, in general, the temporary validity of such risks. Thus, the main objective of this work is to develop a theoretical framework for the modeling of the NER that allows its monitoring through the technology lifecycle (TLC), especially in industrial processes. To develop this framework, first it has been carried out an analysis of the limitations previously mentioned as well as the related literature. In this way, a theoretical context that allows to justify and argue properly the development of three new models for the NER, NR and IR has been set up. These named models allow, on the one hand, characterizing and differentiating the new qualities from the increasing qualities associated to risk. On the other hand, these models allow defining a set of risk typologies. These typologies have been associated with risk evolutionary phases likely to be integrated into the TLC, especially of a given industrial process, allowing monitoring over time of its NER.