Risk Management for Safety and Health in Historic Building Facilities – HIRARC

Historic building facilities play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage and shaping urban identity, offering a glimpse into the past while enriching the present with architectural wonders. However, these structures often encounter unique safety and health challenges due to their age, intricate designs, and the materials used in their construction. Managing risks in historic buildings is particularly complex because of their architectural intricacy, varying preservation states, and the need to uphold their historical authenticity. Conventional risk management approaches frequently fall short in addressing these specific challenges, leading to inadequate safety measures and increased hazards. While numerous risk management methodologies are available, there remains a gap in the application of advanced mixed-method techniques specifically designed for historic building facilities. This shortfall can result in ineffective hazard identification, incomplete risk assessments, and insufficient control measures, ultimately compromising the safety and well-being of both the structures and their occupants. This research aims to bridge this gap by employing a risk assessment methodology integrated with advanced risk management techniques. Using HIRARC tools for data analysis, the study identified a high potential for hazards throughout the facility, highlighting risks linked to poor maintenance. Comprehensive findings from the risk assessment provided a deeper understanding of the severity and likelihood of these risks. 71% of components were identified as high-risk facilities and 28% medium-risk facilities. Moreover, the observations aligned significantly with the results, reinforcing the findings. Ultimately, the integration of advanced risk management approaches through HIRARC has proven highly effective in enhancing safety and health standards in historic building facilities. Finally, the HIRARC approach will help to prevent the risk of hazards.