Week 11: Risk Pt. 1, Risk Pt. 2, Risk Pt. 3 Flashcards
Where does risk stem from?
Uncertainty (fear) and a lack of knowledge.
What are the 3 types of ‘events’ off which we can evaluate risk and uncertainty?
- Lots of historical data (experience) is available to us to assess uncertainty and risk.
- We have only some data available to us.
- We have no data.
Define the ‘human’ source of uncertainty.
We tend to act irrationally under stress, which induces tremendous risk. The scope and scale of the consequences tend to have been amplified by a human factor.
What are some ways to reduce risk?
- Implement stricter safety procedures
- Reinforce structural support of a system
- Implement control system checks/more effective technology
What are the consequences of a hazard?
- Personal consequences (health & safety)
- Environmental consequences
- Economic and information losses
- Tarnished reputation`
What is a ‘hazard’, and what is ‘hazard identification’?
Hazard: A source of potential harm.
Hazard identification: A way to try and enumerate all aspects/elements that could be the source of a hazard.
What is a ‘failure’ and a ‘failure mode’?
Failure: An apparatus’ inability to perform its function.
Failure mode: One physical mechanism by which a specific physical item fails to perform its required function (one complex system can have dozens of failure modes).
What is risk ‘perception’, ‘estimation’, ‘control option’, and ‘control strategy’?
Risk perception: The way in which people perceive risk.
Risk estimation: Estimation of frequent or probable consequences.
Risk control option: Reducing the frequency or severity of injury or loss.
Risk control strategy: A program which may include application of several risk control options.
What is risk ‘communication’ and ‘management’?
Risk communication: Two-way communication between stakeholders about the existence, nature, form, severity and acceptability of the risk.
Risk management: Systematic application of management policies and procedures; an iterative cycle.
What are some factors that may impact risk perception?
- Level of relevant skills and knowledge.
- Perception of likelihood (high = risk-averse attitude)
- Perception of negative impacts (high = risk-averse attitude)
- Degree of perceived control of the situation
- Closeness of risk in time (high = risk-averse attitude)
- Potential for direct negative consequences (high = risk-averse attitude)
Describe the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) process of risk-management.
Plan: policy dev., risk ident./eval., plan for measures/actions to be taken.
Do: carry out measures, management.
Check: analyze, registrations + audits, improvement actions.
Act: Carry out improvement actions, revise and adjust.
What are two basic rules for successful stakeholder agreement?
- Your job is ‘asking’, not ‘telling’ - focus on listening attentively and asking questions.
- Formal agreements and partnerships can be mutually beneficial - people are often willing to share risk when there is transparency of access to information, so establish trust and some sense of collaboration.
What are the four classes of risk?
- Low prob. x low damage = low risk
- High prob. x low damage = medium risk
- Low prob. x high damage = medium risk *Depends on visual perception.
- High prob. x high damage = high risk
What are the usual (and, oftentimes, WRONG) responses to public outrage?
Conservative: ignore public opinion, mitigate risk to extent feasible (we have the knowledge, we have done everything, so deal with it).
Liberal: public is ignorant, but can be educated (explains everything better)
Corporate: public is manipulated by sensational mass media (fighting a propaganda battle)
Activist: the public is right, experts have been bought off
