Incorporation of EU Harmonized Classifications to Enhance Traditional Methods of Risk Analysis

Abstract

This paper describes a risk assessment (RA) study focusing on the circumstances of occupational accidents in a Portuguese company of the “hotel, restaurant and catering” sector (HORECA). The aim was to modernize current practice by incorporating new features into traditional RA techniques; this new development gave particular attention to the integration of harmonized variables established by the Eurostat within the European Statistics on Accidents at Work (ESAW) classification system. The study consisted of two parts and it used a number of harmonized variables: (1) the characterization of the company’s “typical accident”, defined here as the most frequent type of accident (2011–2012 period), and (2) the analysis (and assessment) of occupational risks using the new procedure, i.e., the “enhanced methodology”. In the latter case, the idea was to run a trial test of the procedure’s application and usefulness, especially in terms of its ability to provide a clearer identification of “accident scenarios”. The results allowed mapping the relevant risk situations, in which “falls on the floor” are the prevalent type of accident (contact); this accident mode is associated with two categories of physical activity: carrying by hand/transporting a load, or ordinary movements (e.g.: walking, running, going up, going down, etc.). The most frequent injuries are dislocations, sprains and strains, or wounds and superficial injuries. The conclusions highlight the advantages of using European harmonized classifications with any kind of risk assessment methodology. This improved procedure is likely to produce comparable information (outputs), which can embrace both accidents at work and/or occupational diseases.