# Analytical Hierarchy Process for Construction Safety Management and Resource Allocation
## 1 Introduction  
The construction industry plays a pivotal role in the global economy and infrastructure development; however, it is also recognized as one of the most hazardous sectors in industry. Construction sites are characterized by continuous dynamism, rendering daily changes that introduce varying accident risks. Dangerous activities, such as excavations, working at height, exposure to dust and noise, and operation of heavy machinery, pose significant risks to workers' safety [1].  
Addressing safety concerns in the construction industry requires a proactive approach, meticulous planning, and a deep understanding of the complex dynamics inherent in construction site operations. By systematically identifying and addressing hazards, construction companies can create safer working environments for their employees. Research studies have focused on identifying and quantifying risks associated with constructionaccidents [2; 3]. It concluded that while significant improvements have been made, practical tools for hazard analysis and enhancing safety performance in construction are still lacking.  
Accidents in the construction industry are often attributed to a combination of factors, necessitating comprehensive risk assessment and management approaches. Collaboration among diverse teams on construction sites adds complexity and underscores the importance of analyzing safety risks by occupation or project phases to ensure comprehensive accident prevention strategies. This study seeks to improve safety outcomes on various construction projects through attribute-based risk analysis and customized safety plans. Acknowledging the complex interplay of various factors, the 5M model, illustrated in Figure 1, is employed to analyze root factors to prevent future accidents [4]. Such a model helps identify the root causes of accidents and attribute them to five main groups: man, machinery, medium, management, and mission [5; 6]. This study suggests analyzing these risk factors using the 5M model and categorizing them according to different project phases to enhance their mitigation process.  
Allocating appropriate safety resources for promoting a safety culture, enhancing training programs and safety practices, and implementing advanced solutions can improve safety outcomes in the construction industry [7]. To mitigate risks effectively and improve safety outcomes, research studies emphasize the correlation between safety practices and construction quality [8], underlining the critical need for stringent safety measures. These measures ultimately ensure the well-being of workers and the successful completion of projects. Given the fact that few studies have examined safety resource allocation in construction projects [9; 10] there is still a lack of modeling tools for safety resource allocation, and construction safety suffers from a scarcity of safety resources. This paper introduces the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to support decision-makers to prioritize and allocate safety resources effectively. Unlike other studies [10], decisions regarding safety resource allocation are proposed based on the priority-setting of safety risk and cost preferences.  
While the 5M model and AHP have been studied and applied individually, there is a dearth of research on the benefits of combining these two approaches to enhance decision-making and resource optimization processes. Due to the limited exploration of their integrated application, the research gap lies in combining the 5M model for root cause analysis and the AHP for decision-making and optimizing resource allocation.  
Figure 1: The 5M model’s interactions in investigating work accidents [4].