Risk

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Risk is the combination of the likelihood of a hazardous event occurring and the severity of the potential harm or damage resulting from that event. Essentially, it’s the measure of the probability and consequences of a hazard.

Brief Explanation of the Term “Risk”

Risk arises when people, assets, or the environment are exposed to hazards. Risk is not the same as hazard. A hazard is the potential for harm, while risk is the probability that the harm will actually occur. Risk assessment is a fundamental part of OHSE management, allowing organizations to prioritize hazards and implement appropriate control measures. Risk can be expressed in qualitative terms (e.g., low, medium, high) or quantitative terms (e.g., a numerical probability).

Risk assessment involves evaluating:

  1. Likelihood – How probable is it that the hazardous event will occur? (e.g., rare, possible, likely)
  2. Severity – How serious would the consequences be if the event did occur? (e.g., minor injury, serious injury, fatality)

Example: Workers are performing maintenance on a rooftop.

The hazard is the potential for workers to fall from the rooftop. The risk is determined by considering both the probability of a fall and the potential consequences of that fall.

Risk:

  • If the rooftop has guardrails and workers are wearing safety harnesses, the likelihood of a fall is low, and therefore, the risk is low.
  • However, if the rooftop has no guardrails and workers are not using safety harnesses, the likelihood of a fall is high, and the potential severity of the injury (a serious fall) is also high. Therefore, the risk is high.

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