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Innovations and Sustainable Practices to Ensure Project Safety and Improve Risk Management Capabilities

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 7084

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
National Research and Development Institute on Occupational Safety-INCDPM “Alexandru Darabont” Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: occupational health and safety; management; risk assessment; ergonomics

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Guest Editor

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Guest Editor
1. Materials Engineering and Industrial Safety Department, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, 67 Dimitrie Mangeron str., 700050 Iasi, Romania
2. Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov 3, 050044, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: materials engineering; industrial engineering
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ISO 31000:2018 standard defines risk as the effect of uncertainty on objectives. In contrast, risk management is presented by the same standard, consisting of coordinated activities to direct and control an organization regarding risk. The efficient management of risks requires knowledge from several specializations and the collaboration of specialists from several fields. This Special Issue aims to improve the understanding of researchers and other specialists concerned with risk management and facilitate the sharing of ideas and good practice examples.

In this context, this Special Issue seeks papers presenting state-of-the-art research, perspectives, innovative and sustainable models or approaches, system improvements, performance measurement, empirical studies and applied case studies or surveys. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Integrated management systems (quality–environment–occupational health and safety, and others);
  • Mutual influences of different components of integrated management systems and the impact on global projects’ or companies’ safety;
  • Assessment and management of different types of risk (occupational health and safety, psychological, public health, food-related);
  • New and emerging risks, and practical solutions to eliminate or mitigate them;
  • Examples of innovative and sustainable solutions for better risk management.

The Guest Editors will select high-quality research for peer reviews. Reviewers will be selected among active researchers in the field of risk management whose works are present in international databases.

Dr. Doru Costin Darabont
Prof. Dr. Lucian-Ionel Cioca
Prof. Dr. Costica Bejinariu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • risk
  • risk management
  • risk assessment
  • psychological risk
  • public health risk
  • toxicological risk
  • food risk
  • occupational health and safety management
  • quality management systems
  • environment management systems

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 929 KiB  
Article
Impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance Risks and Mitigation Strategies of Innovation and Sustainable Practices of Host Country on Project Performance of CPEC
by Iqtidar Hussain, Sun Zhonggen, Jaffar Aman and Sunana Alam
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6861; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156861 - 28 Jul 2025
Abstract
This research examines the relationship between environmental, social safety and governance risks, and the mitigation strategies of the host country to enhance project performance in the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The study concludes that the timely and effective completion of CPEC projects is [...] Read more.
This research examines the relationship between environmental, social safety and governance risks, and the mitigation strategies of the host country to enhance project performance in the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The study concludes that the timely and effective completion of CPEC projects is challenged by environmental, social safety, and governance (ESG) risks, including environmental degradation, security threats, and governance issues. Based on the data of 618 respondents from Pakistan and using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SMART PLS 4, the study investigates the impact of sustainable environmental practices, safety and security measures, governance risk mitigation actions, and project management systems on the project performance of CPEC projects. The results show that mitigation efforts implemented by the host country reduce the ESG investment risk and yield a positive effect on the project performance. Hence, this paper will show the importance of proactive measures such as sustainable development practices, security risk management systems, and transparent governance practices in matching challenges and enhancing project benefits. This research reinforces the potential for these risks to be mitigated through the adoption of innovative technologies. Innovation in environments, social protection, and governance frameworks can greatly mitigate the negative impacts of risks, directly improving the outcomes of project delivery. Infrastructure projects are extremely challenging to manage, and this study gives key hints for enhancing project safety and risk management in those types of infrastructure projects for practitioners, policymakers, project managers, and other stakeholders to establish innovative, sustainable strategies. Full article
28 pages, 522 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Strategies to Reduce Logistics Costs Based on Cross-Docking—The Case of Emerging European Markets
by Mircea Boșcoianu, Zsolt Toth and Alexandru-Silviu Goga
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6471; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146471 - 15 Jul 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
Cross-docking operations in Eastern and Central European markets face increasing complexity amid persistent uncertainty and inflationary pressures. This study provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis integrating economic efficiency with sustainability indicators across strategic locations. Using mixed-methods analysis of 40 bibliographical sources and quantitative [...] Read more.
Cross-docking operations in Eastern and Central European markets face increasing complexity amid persistent uncertainty and inflationary pressures. This study provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis integrating economic efficiency with sustainability indicators across strategic locations. Using mixed-methods analysis of 40 bibliographical sources and quantitative modeling of cross-docking scenarios in Bratislava, Prague, and Budapest, we integrate environmental, social, and governance frameworks with activity-based costing and artificial intelligence analysis. Optimized cross-docking achieves statistically significant cost reductions of 10.61% for Eastern and Central European inbound logistics and 3.84% for Western European outbound logistics when utilizing Budapest location (p < 0.01). Activity-based costing reveals labor (35–40%), equipment utilization (25–30%), and facility operations (20–25%) as primary cost drivers. Budapest demonstrates superior integrated performance index incorporating operational efficiency (94.2% loading efficiency), economic impact (EUR 925,000 annual savings), and environmental performance (486 tons CO2 reduction annually). This is the first empirically validated framework integrating activity-based costing–corporate social responsibility methodologies for an emerging market cross-docking, multi-dimensional performance assessment model transcending operational-sustainability dichotomy and location-specific contingency identification for emerging market implementation. Findings support targeted infrastructure investments, harmonized regulatory frameworks, and public–private partnerships for sustainable logistics development in emerging European markets, providing actionable roadmap for EUR 142,000–EUR 187,000 artificial intelligence implementation investments achieving a 14.6-month return on investment. Full article
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23 pages, 3185 KiB  
Article
Impact of Personal Protective Equipment Use on Stress and Psychological Well-Being Among Firefighters: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Doru Costin Darabont, Lucian-Ionel Cioca, Costică Bejinariu, Daniel Onuț Badea, Oana Roxana Chivu and Timur Vasile Chiș
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9666; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229666 - 6 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2441
Abstract
This study evaluated the individual and psychosocial impacts of personal protective equipment on firefighters by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. While PPE is necessary for the protection of firefighters, it can also lead to a number of challenges, which may be both [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the individual and psychosocial impacts of personal protective equipment on firefighters by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. While PPE is necessary for the protection of firefighters, it can also lead to a number of challenges, which may be both physical and psychological. This assessment incorporates insights from several studies that discuss the factors of stress related to the use of PPE by firefighters. The key aspects of the assessment include the adverse effects of overheating, the restriction of free movements, the inability to speak normally, and various other factors that increase stress. Studies have revealed that the use of PPE increases physical and mental stress levels by 10–25%, which increases overall anxiety by 35% and stress levels by 20–30%. The results suggest that the use of PPE is correlated with heightened levels of both physical and mental stress, leading to a 35% increase in anxiety and a 20–30% increase in stress. This study highlights the need to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to address and reduce the effects of PPE use on stress. Policy directions are aimed at improving PPE design, applying stress prevention programs, and controlling organizational strategies to protect firefighters’ safety and well-being. Full article
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25 pages, 1323 KiB  
Article
The Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence in the Forklift Industry—An Analysis for the Case of Romania
by Alexandru-Silviu Goga, Zsolt Toth, Mihai-Alin Meclea, Ionela-Roxana Puiu and Mircea Boșcoianu
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9306; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219306 - 26 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2986
Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the forklift industry, focusing on logistics and procurement within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Romania. Using a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with seven managers from a benchmarked company in the forklift industry [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the forklift industry, focusing on logistics and procurement within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Romania. Using a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with seven managers from a benchmarked company in the forklift industry (BCFI) and quantitative analysis of operational data, we examine the transformative effects of AI integration. Key findings include a 30% reduction in inventory holding costs due to AI-powered predictive analytics; a 15% decrease in procurement costs through AI-driven supplier evaluation systems; a 25% increase in operational efficiency from AI-optimized route planning; a 40% boost in overall productivity attributed to AI-enabled automation; and a projected 20% reduction in low-skilled labor requirements over the next five years. The study employs environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), balanced scorecard (BSC), benchmarking, and activity-based management (ABM) models to analyze risks and implications of AI integration. A case study of a leading Romanian SME in the forklift industry is presented, examining financial strategies using McKinsey’s 7S framework. The paper concludes that while AI offers significant operational benefits, it also presents challenges in workforce transition and ethical considerations that require careful management. Full article
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