Status of qualitative and semi-quantitative workplace safety risk assessment research in Iran: A scoping review

Background Despite the widespread use of qualitative and semi-quantitative workplace safety risk assessment (WSRA) techniques as the main means of protecting employees in Iran, and despite the numerous applied studies that have been conducted, there is a lack of dedicated and comprehensive research in this field. Consequently, many general aspects regarding the utilization of these techniques, as well as their challenges, limitations, and research gaps, remain unknown. Objective This scoping review study aimed to address research gap by analyzing the status of applied studies conducted using qualitative and semi-quantitative WSRA techniques. Design A comprehensive search was carried out in Persian and English online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, SID, Magiran, and IranDoc, covering the period up to December 31, 2023. Studies conducted in Iranian workplaces utilizing qualitative/semi-quantitative WSRA were specifically chosen. To extract and categorize the findings of these studies, the research team developed a standardized form using an Excel sheet. Results A total of 185 articles were reviewed. The findings revealed an increasing trend in the number of studies conducted, but an uneven distribution across geographical areas and workplaces. Among the WSRA techniques, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and job safety analysis (JSA) were the most commonly utilized. Furthermore, the review identified errors, research gaps, and fundamental limitations in some studies, indicating a lack of required quality in risk assessments. Conclusions Despite the numerous applied studies conducted using qualitative and semi-quantitative WSRA techniques, these studies have shown various limitations and gaps. This review proposes solutions to enhance the quality of WSRA studies and providing suggestions for future research.