Development of an Integrated Safety Assessment Framework for Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment of Gas Pipeline Installation Works in the Indian Construction Industry

Abstract

Natural gas has emerged as one of the major energy sources supporting India's petrochemical, power generation, fertilizer, refinery, and manufacturing sectors. The continuous expansion of cross-country gas pipeline networks under the national energy infrastructure has significantly increased the demand for safe and reliable pipeline installation practices. However, gas pipeline construction involves several high-risk activities, including excavation, trenching, Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), pipe lifting, welding, hydrostatic testing, and confined space operations, which expose workers to multiple occupational hazards and increase the likelihood of accidents if appropriate safety measures are not implemented. The present study aims to develop an integrated safety assessment framework for hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk control during gas pipeline installation works. The research focuses on identifying hazards associated with various construction activities, evaluating their risk levels, and recommending appropriate control measures to improve occupational safety and reduce accident potential. The study adopts a comprehensive methodology comprising questionnaire-based survey analysis involving 127 professionals associated with gas pipeline construction, systematic site observation of actual construction practices, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) for determining root causes of critical accident scenarios, and Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) for qualitative risk evaluation and prioritization. The integration of these techniques provides a systematic approach for identifying unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, human factors, equipment failures, and management deficiencies contributing to construction-related incidents. The findings indicate that unsafe worker behaviour, inadequate supervision, poor safety compliance, ineffective communication, and deficiencies in risk control measures are among the major contributors to occupational accidents during gas pipeline installation. Fault Tree Analysis revealed that seemingly minor unsafe conditions and procedural deviations can combine to produce catastrophic events, while HIRARC effectively prioritizes hazards according to their likelihood and severity, enabling the implementation of suitable engineering, administrative, and personal protective control measures. The study further emphasizes that active management commitment, competent safety professionals, regular site inspections, safety induction programmes, toolbox talks, and continuous monitoring significantly enhance workplace safety performance. The proposed integrated safety assessment framework offers a practical and systematic approach for strengthening safety management in gas pipeline construction projects in India. The outcomes of this research can assist project owners, contractors, safety professionals, and regulatory agencies in improving hazard identification, minimizing occupational risks, enhancing safety compliance, and promoting a proactive safety culture throughout the lifecycle of gas pipeline installation projects.