Risk Notes

Risk and Risk Assessment Risk – the possibility of suffering harm from a hazard that can cause injury, disease, economic loss, or environmental damage. Risk assessment 1. Identify a real or potential hazard. 2. Determine the probability of its occurrence. 3. Assess the severity of its health, environmental, economic and social impact.

Risk Management Risk management 1. How serious is it compared to other risks? (comparative risk analysis) 2. Should the risk be reduced? 3. If the risk should be reduced, what actions need to be taken in order for this to be done? 4. How much money should be devoted to reducing the risk to an acceptable level

Risk Analysis Risk analysis 1. identify the hazards and their associated risks. 2. Ranking risks 3. Determining options and making decisions about reducing or eliminating the risk. 4. Informing decision makers and the public about the risks.

Major Types of Hazards Cultural hazards – smoking, unsafe work conditions, poor diet, drugs, drinking, driving, criminal assault, unsafe sex, and poverty. Chemical hazards – chemicals in the air, water, soil, and food. DDT, PCBs, dioxins, organophosphates pesticides, fermaldehyde, heavy metals, taluene, and xylene. Physical hazards – radiation, fire, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes and hurricanes. Biological hazards – pathogens, allergens, animals and plants.