Identifying and Prioritizing the Indicators Influencing the Performance of the Permit-to-work System Using Hybrid Fuzzy Delphi Method - Improve Analytic Hierarchy Process Methods: An Exploratory Cross-sectional Study

Mousavi, Seyed Mahdi; Yazdanirad, Saeid; Zakerian, Seyed Abolfazl; Karimi, Ali

doi:10.4103/ijehe.ijehe_33_23

Identifying and Prioritizing the Indicators Influencing the Performance of the Permit-to-work System Using Hybrid Fuzzy Delphi Method - Improve Analytic Hierarchy Process Methods: An Exploratory Cross-sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Seyed Mahdi Mousavi ¹

Saeid Yazdanirad ²

Seyed Abolfazl Zakerian ³

Ali Karimi ³

¹ Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

² Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

³ Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.4103/ijehe.ijehe_33_23

Abstract

Aim:
This study aimed to identify and prioritize the main indicators that influence the performance of the permit-to-work (PTW) using hybrid fuzzy Delphi-improve analytic hierarchy process (IAHP) methods.
Materials and Methods:
By the fuzzy Delphi method, indicators that affect PTW are classified into seven main groups and 41 subindicators based on experts’ opinions; in the final stage, indicators and subindicators were weighted and prioritized using the IAHP methods.
Results:
The results of the IAHP method showed that accountability (0.178), preventive measures and risk avoidance (0.165), and training and qualification (0.141) are the most important ingredients also; the results revealed that identification of work-related hazards (0.221), preformation of gas test (0.173), signature of responsible person for safety (0.232), the record of the work steps (0.213), period of permit validity (0.153), and period of training courses (0.351) had most important among the subindicators.
Conclusion:
The results of this study can be used as a practical guide to plan the implementation of corrective measures for improving the performance of the PTW system and conduct an audit to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the PTW system in process industries.

Keywords

Analytic hierarchy

Delphi techniques

manufacturing industry

processes