Civil and Project journal

Improving Risk Management in Excavation Projects with a Gap Analysis Approach (Case study of Shiraz city)

https://doi.org/10.22034/cpj.2025.519963.1361
Volume 7, Issue 3 - Serial Number 73
June 2025
Pages 26-46
Civil and Project journal

Document Type : Technical Paper

Authors

Saber Sharifi 1
Seyed Ahmad Janabali Jahromi 2
Esmaeil Salami Shahid 3
Ardalan Feili 4

1 Master's student, Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Apadana Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran.

2 Full Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Apadana Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran.

3 Visiting Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Apadana Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Apadana Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract
In recent years, deep excavations have developed in Shiraz due to the scarcity and high cost of land. Every year, numerous incidents occur during foundational excavations in Shiraz, resulting in significant human and financial losses. This study aims to identify the current and desired status of risk management in excavation projects in the city of Shiraz. To conduct this research, a questionnaire was designed based on the regulations related to the safety of excavation projects, and the validity of the questionnaire was assessed through consultations with five experts in the field of civil engineering. The statistical population consisted of experts and specialists in safety management for construction projects in Shiraz, with a sample size of 92 individuals. According to the results of this research, the gap between the current and desired status of risk management in excavation projects related to the indicators assessing the seismicity of the area, attention to underground facilities, and the location of material disposal was greater than 2. These indicators are in an unfavorable condition, and managing them requires immediate and short-term planning. The gap between the current and desired status of risk management in excavation projects concerning the indicators of safety for adjacent workers, appropriate entry and exit points, supervision by qualified personnel, retaining structures, assessment of weather conditions, appropriate shoring based on depth, site enclosure, topographic maps of the area, distance between workers, the experience of individuals, wall inspections after hazardous events, soil testing, storage locations for construction materials, lifting equipment foundations, and inspection of adjacent buildings was between 1 and 2. These indicators are in a relatively unfavorable condition, and managing them also requires immediate and short-term planning. The gap between the current and desired state of risk management of excavation projects was related to the indicators of machinery monitoring, situation-appropriate restraint, and lighting, respectively, and these indicators are in a suitable state.

Keywords

Risk Management
Excavation
Gap Analysis
Safety
Construction Project
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 29 March 2025
  • Revise Date 04 May 2025
  • Accept Date 14 May 2025
  • First Publish Date 14 May 2025
  • Publish Date 22 May 2025

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