A model to identify factors affecting occupational accidents and injuries is based on aqualitative approach and Fuzzy DEMATEL in the automotive industry

Introduction: Various factors and causes, including organizational and human factors, areinvolved in the occurrence of an accident and occupational injury. In this regard, much researchhas been done to identify the human and organizational factors that play a role in accidents.The automotive industry includes various processes that will cause occupational accidents andinjuries and affect the health of personnel. This study aims to provide a qualitative model toidentify the root factors in occupational accidents and occupational injuries and determine therelationship of how these factors interact based on a combination of DEMATEL and fuzzylogic theory in the automotive industry.Methods: In the qualitative part of the current research, semi-structured interviews wereconducted with 23 industry experts to identify factors affecting occupational accidents andinjuries deeply using MAXQDA software. The DEMATEL method was then used to betterunderstand the cause-and-effect relationships between a model's criteria. Finally, solutionswere presented to control influential and critical factors in occupational accidents and injuries.Results: Among the factors identified at the extra-organizational level, the factors of extraorganizationallaws and standards and government policies have a cause-and-effect nature thataffects the other three sub-criteria. At the organizational level, the factors of organizationalpolicies have the most influence and importance. At the level of unsafe supervision, theinadequate instruction factor was the most influential criterion.Conclusion: Finaly, it is suggested that, given the importance of identifying factors at theextra-organizational level, organizational and unsafe supervision, which have the most impact,should be the priorities of the organization and safety management to control or reduce theirimpact on other factors. In this way, it is possible to prevent future accidents and occupationalinjuries in the workplace.

A model to identify factors affecting occupational accidents and injuries is based on aqualitative approach and Fuzzy DEMATEL in the automotive industry Keywords:

occupational accidents , injuries , DEMATEL method