Conceptual Risk Pathway Model for Lifting and Rigging Operations in Heavy Industrial Construction

Abstract

Lifting and rigging operations in heavy industrial construction are inherently high-risk activities due to the complexity of equipment, dynamic site conditions, and human factors that contribute to accidents and operational failures. Despite existing safety regulations and standard operating procedures, incidents continue to occur, often resulting in significant injuries, fatalities, and project delays. This presents a conceptual risk pathway model designed to systematically analyze and mitigate hazards associated with lifting and rigging operations. The model integrates organizational, human, and technical dimensions, mapping the sequence of potential risk events from initial planning through execution and post-operation assessment. It identifies key risk drivers, including equipment malfunctions, improper rigging practices, inadequate training, communication failures, and environmental constraints, and illustrates how these factors interact to produce adverse outcomes. The model further incorporates human factors, such as cognitive biases, fatigue, and decision-making errors, as well as organizational influences, including safety culture, leadership, and procedural compliance, to provide a holistic understanding of risk propagation. Critical control points, preventive measures, and mitigation strategies are embedded within the pathway to support proactive risk management, emphasizing the importance of planning, training, supervision, and real-time monitoring. The framework also facilitates scenario-based analysis, allowing organizations to simulate risk progression and evaluate the effectiveness of safety interventions before operational execution. By linking risk factors, pathways, and controls, the model enables construction managers, safety engineers, and project teams to anticipate hazards, prioritize interventions, and implement structured, life-preserving safety practices. The proposed risk pathway model contributes to the literature by providing a theoretically grounded and practically applicable framework for understanding and managing the complex interplay of human, organizational, and technical factors in heavy lifting and rigging operations. It offers actionable insights for improving safety outcomes, reducing incident recurrence, and enhancing operational resilience in industrial construction environments.

Topics & Concepts