11/8/22, 2:41 PM Risk Assessment and Management for Safety Professionals

What Is Risk Assessment?

Risk assessment is a function within occupational safety and health (OSH) risk management that focuses on
identifying potential hazards. The goal is to identify hazards, then analyze and evaluate the risks they create.

What Is Risk Management?

Risk management in OSH is a formal process for identifying hazards, evaluating and analyzing risks associated
with those hazards, then taking action to eliminate the hazards or control the risks that can’t be eliminated to
minimize injury and illness potential. Risk management is a critical step in any organization’s efforts to proactively
mitigate risk before an injury or catastrophe occurs.

Why Is Risk Important in Safety?

Risk is the main cause of uncertainty in any organization. As a safety professional, you can help your organization
identify and manage risks before an incident happens.

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While your organization must comply with regulations and reduce its injury rate, those metrics force a rear-view
mirror perspective. Applying risk management principles can help you proactively reduce risk, advance safety and
drive a return on investment from safety programs.

Core Risk-Related Competencies

Many core competencies of risk are defined and described in standards such as ANSI/ASSP Z10 and
ANSI/ASSP/ISO 45001, which address OSH safety management systems. Additional details are outlined in
ANSI/ASSP ISO 31000, Risk Management, and ANSI/ASSP Z590.3, Prevention Through Design.

To effectively manage risk as an OSH professional, you should have a keen understanding of the following
processes:

   Principles of Risk Management

   Data Gathering
   Setting the Scope of a Risk Assessment Plan
Setting the scope includes determining the purpose, context and limitations for the risk assessment plan and
mitigation of risks.

During this phase, teams:

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Establish a clear understanding of organizational objectives to determine risk criteria, risk scoring,
stakeholder roles and responsibilities.

Use risk assessment tools such as a risk assessment matrix, failure mode and effect analysis, and risk
heat map.

   Conducting a Risk Assessment

Conducting a risk assessment includes understanding the basics of common risk assessment techniques,
including reducing operational risks, improving safety performance and achieving objectives.

Safety professionals conducting a risk assessment must first understand how to:

Identify risks

Conduct a quantitative risk analysis

Conduct a qualitative risk analysis

Conduct a risk evaluation

Communicate risks

Evaluate/analyze risk assessments

Establish acceptable risk

Prioritize risks

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Establish risk control metrics and dashboards

   Treating Your Organizational Risks

By protecting workers and helping to achieve business objectives as an OSH professional, you can position
yourself as a high-profile leader who makes a real difference.

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