Risk

Question 1

What does hazard mean?

Answer 1

“hazard” means a source of or exposure to danger

Question 2

What is risk?

Answer 2

The possibility of harm

Official Definitions:
• means the probability that injury or damage will occur
• OHSA 93 of 2004
• means the likelihood that occupational injury or harm to
persons will occur
• MHSA 29 of 1996
• the effect of uncertainty on objectives
• ISO 31000 Risk Management
• (Here it is defined as either positive or negative)

Question 3

How do you remove hazards?

Answer 3

• Infinite amount of money required to remove all
hazards
• Some hazards you can’t remove
• Shut down all industry
• Can be argued that the hazards of industrialisation outweigh the hazards of non-industrialization
• Hazard only MIGHT harm you

Question 4

What is the zero harm policy?

Answer 4

A level of acceptable risk is always implied

Question 5

What is “acceptable risk”?

Answer 5

• Legislation decides on some acceptable risks for you
• Personal Hazards:
• Regulated by OHSA, MHSA and subsequent regulations
• Environmental Hazards
• E.g. Regulated by Clean Air Act and regulations, Dust Control Regulations
• Societal Hazards
• Far more difficult to either quantify or regulate
• E.g. Monopolies kept in check by Competition Commission
• But they don’t cover everything!

Question 6

How is risk described?

Answer 6

Using probability

Question 7

How does the perception of risk differ?

Answer 7

From person to person

Question 8

What is risk assessment?

Answer 8

• The estimation of risk • either quantitatively or qualitatively
• (Textbook definition of Risk Assessment is only relevant to healthcare scenarios)
• Evaluate Risk – Often a “Risk Level” is used:

Risk Level = Consequence x Probability

Question 9

What is the difference between consequence and probability?

Answer 9

Consequence
• Number of people who would die
• Cost of incident
• Cost of loss income
• Economic Impact

Probability
• % Chance of happening in a year
• How many years it takes to happen ( 1 in 20 year event)
• Uncertainty of prediction

Question 10

What is by no means scientific or comprehensive?

Answer 10

Industry experience?

Question 11

How does one mitigate risks?

Answer 11

• Attempt bring either the consequence, or the probability, or preferably both, down

• Environmental Risk Mitigation:
• E.g. Particle Filters
• E.g. Water Purification before returning water to river streams
• Personal Risk Mitigation:
• E.g. Guards on rotating equipment
• Societal Risk Mitigation
• E.g. A mine has a environmental rehabilitation fund

Question 12

What is maintenance strategy similar to?

Answer 12

Risk management