Methodical approaches to assessing categories of occupational risk predetermined by various health disorders among workers related to occupational and labor process factors

Abstract

If we want to assess occupational risks predetermined by various health disorders among workers related to occupational factors and labor process factors, we need to examine whether additional methods can be applied here; these methods should allow not only quantitative determination of occupational risk but also its adequate categorizing. A procedure for risk assessment based on fuzzy sets analysis can be considered and applied for the matter. Suggested methodical approaches to occupational risk assessment based on this procedure involve step-by-step accomplishment of the following stages: determining fuzzy figures corresponding to preset occupational risk levels; preparing initial data (numeric characteristics of occupational risk) for calculations; probabilistic assessment whether a numeric characteristic of occupational risk belongs to fuzzy numbers; and estimated probability of belonging of occupational risk numeric characteristic. A basic instrument for implementing the procedure is determining a membership function for a trapezoid fuzzy number that estimates whether determined risk assessments belong to a specific risk category. We suggested a scale for assessing occupational risk levels, starting from negligible (0–1∙10-4) to extremely high (3∙10-1–1) and corresponding boundaries of trapezoid fuzzy interval (four figures that define a trapezoid number). The procedure was tested in a situation when occupational diseases (sensorineural hearing loss), work-related diseases (arterial hypertension), and their combinations were revealed under exposure to noise equal to 85 dBA; the tests allowed establishing that membership functions were equal to 1 for all risk levels determined as per results obtained via epidemiologic research