Explaining safety challenges and their relationships using a qualitative-fuzzy DEMATEL approach: A surface mine case study

Neda Molamehdizadeh, Iran University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Iran
Gholam Hossein Halvani, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Department of Occupational Health, Iran
Hossein Ebrahimi, Iran University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Occupational Health Research Center, Department of occupational health and safety engineering, IranFollow
Ali Asghar Farshad, Iran University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Iran
Seyedeh Melika Kharghani Moghadam, Iran University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Department of Health Services, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Saber Moradi Hanifi, Iran University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Iran

Author ORCID Identifier

Hossein Ebrahimi: 0000-0001-5036-9736

Neda Molamehdizadeh: 0000-0001-6570-8331

Gholam Hossein Halvani: 0000-0002-9695-0662

Aliasghar Farshad: 0000-0001-8004-5441

Seyedeh Melika Kharghani Moghadam: 0000-0002-6451-2270

Saber Moradi Hanifi: 0000-0002-5692-2587

Abstract

Safety in surface mining operations is a major organizational management challenge due to the inherently hazardous nature of mining activities. This study aimed to explain safety challenges and identify their interrelationships through a combined qualitative-fuzzy DEMATEL approach in a surface mine in Yazd Province, Iran. The research was carried out in two sequential phases: first, key safety challenges were identified through qualitative interviews with employees, supervisors, and safety experts; then, the relationships among these challenges were analyzed and prioritized using the fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The main challenges identified included insufficient specialized training, inadequate safety equipment, weak organizational safety culture, and reliance on outdated machinery. The results revealed clear differences in the perception of safety challenges among the three groups, and showed that strengthening training programs and improving safety culture could mitigate other issues, such as human error and unsuitable machinery. By integrating qualitative exploration with fuzzy DEMATEL analysis, this study provides a novel framework for capturing diverse perspectives and quantifying their interactions, thereby offering more precise strategies for enhancing workplace safety in mining operations.

Recommended Citation

Molamehdizadeh, Neda; Halvani, Gholam Hossein; Ebrahimi, Hossein; Farshad, Ali Asghar; Moghadam, Seyedeh Melika Kharghani; and Hanifi, Saber Moradi (2026) "Explaining safety challenges and their relationships using a qualitative-fuzzy DEMATEL approach: A surface mine case study," Journal of Sustainable Mining: Vol. 25 : Iss. 3 , Article 3.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46873/2300-3960.1504