Occupational risks and health and safety management strategies in the port sector: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Prioritizing occupational health and safety (OHS) in port operations is crucial for enhancing the industry’s competitiveness. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the international literature on OHS risks in port operations and identify key strategies for promoting worker well-being. A systematic literature review was conducted using the Knowledge Development Process – Constructivist – ProKnow-C method, resulting in the selection of 42 international articles. Risk and strategy characterization were based on the framework proposed by Makin and Winder (2008). The findings reveal that 33.3% of the analyzed articles address or justify their findings based on the three areas of ‘safe person,’ ‘safe system,’ and ‘safe place’ simultaneously in the port sector. The study highlights the need for future research to deepen knowledge in this area, improving in an integrated way the understanding of occupational risk areas and the strategies implemented by the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) in the port environment.