Safety Tidbit 6.13 – Introduction to Risk Analysis

 Safety Tidbit 6.13 – Introduction to Risk Analysis

 

References:     ISO 31010, ANSI/ASSP Z10.0 standard

Military Standard 882D

 

This Safety Tidbit was written by my student, Mr. Josh Fulton, a Senior in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences Program at Indiana University of PA graduating in Summer of 2021.

 

Risk Analysis consists of determining the resulting consequences and their probability for identified risk events, considering the presence and the effectiveness of any existing controls. Risk evaluation involves establishing the context then comparing estimated levels of risk with the defined risk criteria to determine the significance of both the level and type of risk.

 

Goals of risk evaluation decisions should include whether a risk needs treatment, priorities for treatment, whether to do an activity if there is an alternative solution. The military standard 882D is a widely used risk matrix and can be employed when making safety decisions. The matrix splits risk into four classifications:

• Catastrophic- could result in death, permanent disability, property loss exceeding one million dollars, or severe environmental damage that violates regulations or laws.
• Critical- Could result in partial disability, injuries, or occupational illness that may result in hospitalization, property loss exceeding two hundred thousand dollars, or environmental violations that are fixable.
• Marginal- Could result in injury or illness resulting in one or more lost workdays, property loss exceeding ten thousand but less than two hundred thousand dollars. Actionable restoration of environmental violations.
• Negligible- Could result in injury not resulting in a lost workday, property loss less than ten thousand dollars. Only minimal environmental damage not violating any regulations.

 

After the classification of risk, next comes implementing a probability factor. Categories for probability under the Military Standard 882D consist of Frequent, Probable, Occasional, Remote, and Improbable. Now with both the probability factor and risk classification, we can complete a quantitative risk matrix.  

 

The Hierarchy of Controls consists of elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment. Determine which best method of controlling the hazard. After implementing a control, the company must reassess the hazard or job activity to mitigate the risk. 

 

Using control methods that limit a hazard to remote or improbable helps to improve productivity and eliminate risks that can endanger people, property, and the environment. Reevaluate when new processes, new machinery, or new chemicals are implemented or used.

 

I hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

 

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.