Safety risk assessment in industrial maintenance

Purpose - This paper aims to answer the following questions: What conditions must be taken into account in order to manage maintenance-related risks? and how can the service-providing company assess and manage maintenance-related risks? Design/methodology/approach - The study was based on analyses concerning: maintenance-related risks in companies; literature review; and real accident data. The development process was carried out in cooperation with companies providing maintenance services. Findings - Based on the findings, the method takes into account various risks relating to maintenance operations. The method includes specific parts for safety planning and hazard identification for managing maintenance safety. In addition, it provides a safety check-list for the worker. Research limitations/implications - The usability and feasibility of the method should be reassessed and developed. The method could be especially useful in an electronic form. Practical implications - The method can be utilized for assessing maintenance-related occupational risks in different working environments. The results from the assessments create the basis for risk management in industrial maintenance. Originality/value - Owing to certain specific safety challenges, maintenance operations require a specific risk assessment method. However, such a method has not been previously available. The findings and feedback indicate that this kind of a risk assessment tool can be useful in companies.