Geographia Technica, Vol.

14, Special Issue, 2019, pp 232 to 241

RISK ASSESSMENT OF PILING WORK FOR MASS RAPID TRANSIT

(MRT) CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Asmalia Che AHMAD1, Izatul Farrita Mohd KAMAR2, Abdul Muhaimin Ab WAHID1,
Muhamad Fazreen Niza Shah ISMAIL1

DOI: 10.21163/GT_2019. 141.37

ABSTRACT:
This study focuses on the piling works of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line 1 construction
project along Sungai Buloh Station to Kajang Station in Malaysia, considering that piling
work is one of the high risk construction activities. This study utilizes risk assessment tool
using Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment & Risk Control (HIRARC) to create safe
construction workplace. The hazard identification is a process of examination work area
and task inherent to piling activities. The risk assessment of piling works calculated using
likelihood and severity. Based on the hazard identification and risk assessment results,
control measures or risk control are taken into action. The risk assessment sheets as the
research instrument tool were filled by 30 construction professionals and safety
practitioners i.e. safety officers, safety supervisors, site engineers and site supervisors. The
results indicated that there were seven hazards that associated with piling works. One of the
hazards which caused structure collapse during test pile activity was assessed as the
extreme risk. Other six hazards were assessed as high risk. The total 27 risk control
measures were resolved in order to eliminate and reduce hazards as well as prevent accident
during piling work at the MRT construction project.
Key-words: Construction, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Piling Work, Risk Assessment.

1. INTRODUCTION
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is one of the prime transportation infrastructure projects in
Malaysia. MRT construction consists of three MRT urban rail lines. MRT line 1 connects
Sungai Buloh to Kajang which include of 31 stations with the rail span of 51 km. MRT line
2 connects Sungai Buluh to Putrajaya which consist of 40 stations that are spread along the
route. MRT line 3 is the Circle Line that loops around hotspot city area such as Kuala
Lumpur City Center (KLCC) covering 20 km radius of Bukit Bintang, Damansara and
Sentul. For MRT line 1 Sungai Buloh-Kajang, the first phase of construction from Sungai
Buloh to Semantan has been newly operational at the end of 2016. The second phase of
construction, from Semantan to Kajang is fully operational for public passengers by July
2017, allowing trains to run the entire alignment. Each train set serving the line have four
cars, allowing a total capacity of 1 200 passengers. The daily ridership is estimated to be
about 400 000 passengers. The fastest trains run at a frequency of 3.3 minutes (MyMRT,
2017).

1 Universiti Teknologi MARA, Faculty of Architecture Planning and Surveying, Seri Iskandar
Campus, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia. asmalia809@uitm.edu.my;
abdul982@uitm.edu.my; fazreen33@gmail.com;
2 Universiti Teknologi MARA, Centre of Postgraduate Studies, Seri Iskandar Campus, Seri Iskandar,
32610, Perak, Malaysia. izatu739@uitm.edu.my,
3 Universiti Teknologi MARA, Green Safe Cities (GreSafe) Research Group, Shah Alam Campus,
40450, Selangor, Malaysia.
Asmalia Che AHMAD, Izatul FarritaMohd KAMAR, Abdul Muhaimin Ab WAHID and … 233

MRT construction is one of the mega project with strict regulation regarding safety,
health and environmental. However, accidents could happen unpredictably and mostly end
with major injuries, fatal and costly massive losses (Albert et al., 2014; Kamar & Ahmad,
2016). Quite a number major accidents related to MRT construction have been reported
which caused fatality and injured cases. In large-scale construction projects, the accident
rate is higher than that of common construction projects due to the involvement of many
workers, many large and heavy plants, various materials, complex construction operation,
multi-interface, and complex management activities (Guo et al., 2013). Construction of
MRT project involved various construction activities that are hazardous such as piling in
obstructed urban area, tunnel excavation with extensive underground services, construction
works near uses public road and usage of high voltage electric for construction works
The prevention of construction accidents usually entails predicting future accident and
their nature under given circumstances (Al-Kilani, 2011). Therefore, it is important to
understand how these accidents and injuries are generated (Chi & Han, 2013). Accident
prediction is done through the risk management process which consists of identification of
the hazard, calculation of the risk assessment and determining safe control measures
(Health Safety Executive, 2006; Perry, 2003; Binnington, 2011). The aim of this study is to
measure and control the risk for one of the critical construction activities in MRT Project
which is piling works. The objectives of this study are to identify hazards during piling
works, to assess the risk level of those hazards and to determine the risk control measures.
The result of this study could benefit the contractor in order to reduce risk of piling works
during MRT construction project. The methodology for this study has taken quantitative
approach using a risk assessment sheet as the instrument tool.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Risk Management
Construction industry is well known with hazardous workplace and accident potential.
There are five sequential dominos contributing to a construction accident i.e. (i) ancestry
and social environment, (ii) fault of a person, (iii) unsafe act and mechanical or physical
hazards, (iv) accident and (v) injury (Chi & Han, 2013; Ridley, 1990; Chong & Low,
2014). Accidents lead to injuries or worst death, and that these accidents occurred when
worker committed unsafe acts or there were direct mechanical or physical hazards related to
the work (Ridley, 1990; Chong & Low, 2014).
The prevention of construction accidents usually entails predicting future accidents and
their nature under given circumstances (Al-Kilani, 2011). Risk management is an approach
to - prevent accidents by early identification and suggesting appropriate control measures.
Risk management refers to the practice of identifying potential hazard in advance,
analyzing and evaluate the risk of those hazard and taking precautionary steps to reduce the
risk (Health Safety Executive, 2006).
2.2. HIRARC
Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) have become an
essential tool in practice of planning, management and the operation of a basic of risk
management and assessment (Perry, 2003). HIRARC was applied to recognize substandard
act and working condition as list of hazards was developed and analyzed thus to take
necessary corrective action. In line with that, Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) has
highlighted HIRARC as important for identifying hazard, analyzing and assessing its
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associated risk and then applying the suitable control measures subsequently. The process
of HIRARC is shown in Fig. 1.

Classify Work
Activities

Employer Consultation Worker

Representative Representative

Identify Hazards

Risk Assessment
Review

Risk Control

Implementation

Fig. 1. Process of HIRARC.

2.2.1. Hazard Identification

Hazard is a dangerous condition substance that unavoidable of risk although have been
able to be foreseen or predicted that lead to an accident (Goetsch, 2009). Hazard presents a
potential to cause harm (Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of
Human Resources Malaysia, 2008; Huges & Ferrett, 2008). It is an indirect event or
physical substance which possibly happens and cause harm to people, property, processes
or environment (Huges & Ferrett, 2008; Stefanescu et al., 2008).
Hazard identification is the process of examining each work area and work task for the
purpose of identifying all the hazards which are inherent in the job (Welfare Health &
Safety Unit, 2015).
In the process of recognizing hazards, attention should be given to hazard origins.
Hazards originate from (i) construction workplace itself i.e. location, layout, condition and
accessibility, (ii) the design concerning the work, (iii) tasks concern with height or depth,
(iv) hazardous materials i.e. handling, usage, storing and transportation, (v) systems of
work (vi) plant and equipment i.e. installation, erection, commissioning, use, repair,
maintenance, dismantling, transport, storage and disposal, (vii) manual handling and (viii)
physical working environment i.e. objects or structures falling, electric shock, immersion or
engulfment, fire or explosion, noise, heat, cold, vibration, slips, trips, falls, confined space
and contaminated atmosphere (Binnington, 2011).
It is important to identify the hazard as it is the root cause of accident (Department of
Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, 2008; Hamid et
al., 2003). Another significance of hazard identification is that it can be used as an
improvement tools for inspections, supervisions, training, better definition of
responsibilities, and pre-job planning by supervisors (Ridley, 1990; Welfare Health &
Safety Unit, 2015; Hamid et al., 2003).
Asmalia Che AHMAD, Izatul FarritaMohd KAMAR, Abdul Muhaimin Ab WAHID and … 235

2.2.2. Risk Assessment

In construction project context, risk is an event that, if it occurs, adversely affects the
achievement of the project objectives (Carter and Smith, 2006). Risk a measurement to
evaluate hazard. Determining the risk value of construction hazards depends on the
likelihood and severity. Risk value is calculated by multiplying the likelihood of the hazard
with severity occurrence of the hazard with the formula (Department of Occupational
Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, 2008):

Risk (R) = Likelihood (L) × Severity (S) (1)

Risk assessment is the overall process of risk analysis (identification and estimation)
and risk evaluation (measurement and tolerance) (Campbell, 2008). In other words, risk
assessment can be defined as the process of assessing the risks associated with each of the
construction hazards identified. The assessment could be done in structured discussion,
consultation or formal meetings (Work Safe Victoria, 2007).
Risk assessment contained information of identified hazards that could periodically
review or updated as construction work progresses (Hinze and Raboud, 1988).
Additionally, the risk assessment need to be done systematically in order the person in
charge of the construction site i.e. project manager and safety officer could resolve whether
they have taken adequate precautions or should do more control measures in order to
prevent harm (Health Safety Executive, 2006).
2.2.3. Risk Matrix
Risk matrix is used as basis to risk assessment. Risk matrix is the combination of
likelihood and consequence or severity range that gives an estimate of risk or risk level.
Construction of a Risk Matrix Level starts by establishing how the matrix is intended to be
used (Ahmad et al., 2016). Initial decision that has to be made is to define the risk
acceptability or tolerability criteria for the organization using the matrix.
Table 1 contains the value of Risk (R) on hazard that equals to multiplication of
Likelihood (L) and Severity (S) of the hazard. Table 2 shows the indication of Risk Matrix
Level that was categorized as Low, Medium, High and Extreme (Department of
Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, 2008).

Table 1. Risk is the multiplication of Likelihood and Severity

Severity (S)
Likelihood (L)
Not Critical Low Moderate Very
Critical (4)
(1) Critical (2) (3) critical (5)
Never (1) 1 2 3 4 5
Rare (2) 2 4 6 8 10
Sometimes (3) 3 6 9 12 15
Frequently (4) 4 8 12 16 20
Almost Certain(5) 5 10 15 20 25

Table 2. Legend on Risk Matrix Level

Legend for Risk Matrix Level
Low : 1.00 to 2.00
Medium: 3.00 to 6.00
High: 7.00 to 12.00
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2.2.4. Risk Control

Based on the hazard identification and risk assessment which being implemented at the
early stage, the controlling measure or risk control can be initiated to ensure the safety of
construction worker and workplace. Risk control is the elimination or inactivation of a
hazard in a manner such that the hazard does not pose a risk to workers who have to enter
into an area or work on equipment of the scheduled work (Department of Occupational
Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, 2008). Risk control implies
making a move to dispose dangers as sensibly practicable which will eliminate or reduce a
hazard likewise dispense any dangers connected to the hazard (Albert et al., 2014).
Appropriate risk control involves (i) identifying options for controls, (ii) considering
the possibility of excellently eliminating or reducing risk and (iii) applying the selected
option (Ahmad et al., 2016). Selecting option of a control measures involves three stages
which comprise (i) evaluating and selecting short and long term controls, (ii) implementing
short-term measures to protect workers until permanent control can be put in place and
lastly (iii) implementing long term controls when reasonably practicable (Department of
Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, 2008).
The risk control stage involves evaluating effectiveness of risk control measures after
defining the risk assessment and risk matrix. Table 3 shows the indicator for effectiveness
level of the control measures introduce for the hazard.

Table 3. Indicator for risk control measures

RISK CONTROL MEASURES INDICATOR LEVEL
Control measures exceeding industry standards and the best Excellent 3.10 to 4.00
practices. Loss potential is considered significantly reduced
Control measures that are consistent with industry standards and Good 2.10 to 3.00
best practices. Loss potential is considered to be average
Control measures that approach industry standards and best Fair 1.10 to 2.00
practices, however deficiencies exist. Loss potential is considered
somewhat increased
A control measure has major deficiencies and does not approach Poor 0.00 to 1.00
industry standards and best practices. Loss potential is considered
to be significantly increased.

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The scope of study focuses on construction of MRT project. The case study
encompasses piling works on construction of MRT line 1 from Sungai Buloh station to
Kajang station. Fig. 2 shows the route map of MRT Line 1 Sungai Buloh to Kajang.
The types of collected data are primary and secondary data. Primary data entailed risk
assessment involving construction professionals and safety practitioners of MRT project.
Secondary data encompassed progress and safety reports of MRT project. Primary data
were obtained from risk assessment sheets. The risk assessment sheet consist list of hazard
identification, risk assessment and control measure as according to HIRARC process which
tailored for the piling works at MRT construction site. Secondary data were extracted
accordingly to develop the risk assessment sheet which present as the research instrument
tool.
Asmalia Che AHMAD, Izatul FarritaMohd KAMAR, Abdul Muhaimin Ab WAHID and … 237

40 risk assessment sheets were distributed to construction professionals and safety

position of safety officers, safety supervisors, site engineers and site supervisors of MRT
project. The respondents were asked to indicate rating on the risk assessment sheet.
However, only 30 sheets were returned. The data from risk assessment sheets were
analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science System (SPSS) and Microsoft
Excel. The mean score were used to establish the rank for the risk matrix. The mean score
was used to establish the rank for the risk matrix and indicator for control measures as
perceived by the respondents. The mean analysis used is similar to previous empirical study
on safety management of construction workplace (Fang et al., 2004) which solicited views
from construction personnel (Lam et al., 2010).

4. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

Table 4 shows the analysis and the findings of the study i.e. risk assessment for piling
works at MRT construction site. There were seven 7 hazards identified for six activities that
related to piling works which are, (i) structure collapse, (ii) unsecure load, (iii) machinery
movement or mechanical failure, (iv) mixer truck movement, (v) heat or burn or harmful
fume, (vi) chemical hazard and (vii) landslide or sheet pile topple. Five of the hazards
identified were classified under safety, one hazard i.e. heat/burn/harmful fume was
categorized under safety and health while chemical hazards during concrete work was
classified under health hazard. Structure collapse during pile testing (risk matrix mean
=12.76) was regarded as having extreme level of risk while other six hazards were
considered as having high level risk. None of the hazard during piling work was assessed as
medium or low risk.
The second highest level of hazard of piling works was landslide or sheet pile topple
(risk matrix mean = 9.86) during excavation of pile cap. The third highest level of hazard
was the unsecure load/ mechanical failure (risk matrix mean = 9.67) during lifting
reinforcement and. The fourth highest level of hazard was machinery movement/mechanical
failure (risk matrix mean = 9.06) during machinery activities followed by mixer truck
movement (risk matrix mean = 8.40) during concrete work activities. Another two hazard
ranked on sixth and seventh are heat/burn/harmful fume (risk matrix mean = 7.63) during
welding and oxy cutting of the pile and chemical hazard (risk matrix mean = 6.40) during
concrete work. All together 27 risk control measures had been discovered as action for the
seven hazards identified during piling work at MRT construction site. All risk control
measures were regarded as excellent i.e. mean of control measures more than 3.0 except for
use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for chemical hazard during concrete work
activities, which is indicated as good (mean of control measure = 2.90).

Fig. 2. Route map for MRT Line 1 Sungai Buloh to Kajang.

238

Table 4. The summary of Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC)
for piling works in MRT construction project with Control Measures Indicator: Excellent.
Activitie Hazard Identification Risk Assessment
s
Piling Hazard Hazard Risk Risk Risk Control Control
Works Identificatio Classific Matri Matrix Ran Measures Measure
n ation x Level k s Mean
Mean
1 Test Pile Structure Safety 12.76 Extreme 1 i Close 3.63
collapse supervision
by assigned
personnel
i Ensure 3.16
i suitable
foundation
for
temporary
works
i Inspection 3.53
i of physical
i load test
material
i Do not 3.23
v seating
under the
load test
border
2 Lifting Unsecure Safety 9.67 High 3 i Assign 3.53
reinforce load/mecha competent
ment and nical failure person
casting i Using ‘tag 3.16
i line’ during
lifting
work3.16
i Carry out 3.00
i physical
i inspection
for lifting
i Sling—do 3.26
v not stand
under
suspension
load
v Appoint 3.10
banksman
3 Machine Machinery Safety 9.06 High 4 i Machinery 3.30
ry work movemen/m inspection
echanical i Supervision 3.46
failure i during
movement
i Competent 3.53
i person
 Asmalia Che AHMAD, Izatul FarritaMohd KAMAR, Abdul Muhaimin Ab WAHID and … 239

i
i Appoint 3.40
v banksman
4 Concrete Mixer truck Safety 8.40 High 5 i Provide 3.50
work movement proper
access
i Appoint 3.80
i banksman
i Apply speed 3.36
i limit
i
5 Welding Heat/burn/h Safety & 7.63 High 6 i Obtain hot 3.36
& oxy armful fume Health work permit
cutting i Attend 3.4
i toolbox
briefing
i Brief on 3.36
i HIRARC &
i method
statement
i Provide 3.60
v PPE
v Provide fire 3.46
extinguisher
6 Concrete Chemical Health 6.40 High 7 i Use proper 2.90
work hazard PPE to
avoid
irritation
and
splashing
i Brief on 3.60
i HIRARC &
Control Measures Indicator: Good method
statement
7 Excavati Landslide/s Safety 9.86 High 2 i Machinery 3.3
on of heet pile inspection
pile cap topple i Supervision 3.36
i during
movement
i Competent 3.30
i operator
i
i Appoint 3.46
v banksman

5. CONCLUSIONS
This risk assessment study has found that there were seven identified hazards during
piling works of MRT project. One hazard had been assessed as extreme risk and other six
hazards were high risks providing evidence that piling work for MRT construction was
hazardous, risky and dangerous. For improving this hazardous situation, 27 risk control
actions were conducted. All the control measures were rated as excellent actions with only
240

one control act rated as good. These findings conclude that the MRT has taken an excellent
risk control actions to counteract the perilous MRT construction site. Furthermore, this
study also highlights HIRARC as a vital risk assessment tool that assist hazards
identification, assessing the risk level and risk control measures with the purpose of
eliminating or reducing the hazards of piling works at MRT construction project.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was supported by Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia through Fundamental Research
Grant Scheme (Ref: FRGS/1/2016/SSI11/UITM/03/1). The authors also would like to thank
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak Branch and MRT staff for the assistance and opportunity to share
these research findings in international conferences and publications.

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