Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying workplace hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm and determining appropriate control measures to reduce risk to acceptable levels.
What Is a Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment evaluates identified hazards by analyzing two factors: the likelihood of a harmful event occurring and the severity of the consequences if it does. The product of these two factors determines the risk level and priority for control measures.
Risk Assessment Process
- Identify hazards: Use inspections, JHAs, incident history and worker input.
- Identify who might be harmed: Workers, contractors, visitors, the public.
- Evaluate the risk: Rate likelihood (rare to almost certain) and severity (negligible to catastrophic) using a risk matrix.
- Determine controls: Apply the Hierarchy of Controls.
- Record and review: Document findings and review whenever conditions change or after incidents.
Risk Matrix
A typical 5x5 risk matrix plots likelihood against severity to categorize risks as Low, Medium, High, or Critical. This visual tool helps prioritize where to focus resources for maximum risk reduction.
Digital Risk Assessments
Make Safety Easy includes built-in risk matrix tools, customizable risk assessment templates and dashboards that show your organization's risk profile across all sites and tasks.