A Fuzzy-Integrated Multi-Criteria Framework for Evaluating Safety Risk Control Strategies in Construction Projects

Considering the complexity and hazardous nature of construction jobsites, selecting the effective safety risk control strategies is crucial to prevent accidents, protect labor crews, and achieve project objectives related to cost, schedule, and quality in the construction project. However, the evaluation of different safety strategies involves multiple conflicting criteria and uncertain expert judgments, making it a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. To address this problem, this study develops a fuzzy-integrated MCDM framework that combines two methods: Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), which systematically captures the relative importance of safety criteria under uncertainty, and ELECTRE III, which ranks alternative strategies by modeling preferences and veto conditions, reflecting real-world “non-compensatory” safety logic. FAHP determines criterion weights based on expert judgments, while ELECTRE III evaluates and ranks alternative safety strategies. The framework is validated through a piping construction case study, where it successfully identified the optimal safety plan. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to confirm the robustness of results, and comparative tests with other MCDM methods further support its reliability. Therefore, the proposed fuzzy-integrated framework offers an effective approach for evaluating safety risk control strategies, enhancing both safety and overall project performance, and advancing systematic safety management in the construction industry.