**Application to Management Problems**

18 Fuzzy Inference System – Theory and Applications

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**2** 

**Applications of Fuzzy Logic in** 

Isabel L. Nunes1 and Mário Simões-Marques2

 *Universidade Nova de Lisboa,* 

*2Portuguese Navy,* 

*Portugal* 

**Risk Assessment – The RA\_X Case** 

*1Centre of Technologies & Systems; and Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia,* 

Risk management for work accidents and occupational diseases is of utmost importance considering the high toll paid each year in human life, human suffering and the social and economical costs resulting from work accidents and work-related disorders. According to European Agency for Safety and Health at Work every year 5,720 people die in the European Union (EU) as a consequence of work-related accidents (EASHW, 2010). The same Agency points that the International Labour Organisation estimates that an additional 159,500 workers die every year from occupational diseases in the EU. Taking both figures into consideration, it is estimated that every three-and-a-half minutes somebody in the EU dies from work-related causes. EUROSTAT performed the Labour Force Survey 2007 regarding the situation on accidents at work and work-related health problems for the 27 EU

3.2% of workers in the EU-27 had an accident at work during a one year period, which

8.6% of workers in the EU-27 experienced a work-related health problem in the past 12

40% of workers in the EU-27, i.e. 80 million workers, were exposed to factors that can

27% of workers, i.e. 56 million workers, were exposed to factors that can adversely

The same source notes that among workers who had an accident, 73% reported lost work days after the most recent accident, and 22% reported time off that lasted at least one month; hence, due to an accident at work, 0.7% of all workers in the EU-27 took sick leave for at

Within the context of their general obligations, employers have to take the necessary measures to prevent workers from exposure to occupational risks. This is a quite basic principle in the law of many countries. For instance, within the European Community, such principle was established by the Council Directive of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (Directive 89/391/EEC –

the Framework Directive), and then adopted by Member States' national legislations.

Member States (EU-27). The main findings were (Eurostat, 2009):

corresponds to almost 7 million workers;

adversely affect physical health; and

affect mental well-being.

least one month.

months, which corresponds to 20 million persons;

**1. Introduction** 
