Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment is a systematic process of evaluating the potential risks that may be involved in a projected activity or undertaking. It is a strategy used in a variety of fields, including business, engineering, public health, and medicine.

Definition

In the context of public health, a risk assessment is defined as the process to quantify or qualify the nature and extent of risk from a specific hazard or group of hazards. It is used to estimate the likelihood of an adverse event occurring within a specified period or in specified circumstances.

Process

The risk assessment process typically involves the following steps:

1. Identification of hazards: This involves recognizing things that may cause harm.
2. Risk estimation: This involves evaluating the potential consequences of each hazard and the likelihood that these consequences will occur.
3. Risk evaluation: This involves comparing estimated risks with criteria to determine whether the risk is acceptable or tolerable.
4. Risk control: This involves deciding what actions should be taken to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of the hazard's potential harm.

Applications

Risk assessments are used in many disciplines and industries. In medicine, they are used to determine the potential risks of a new drug or treatment. In business, they are used to identify potential risks that could impact a company's operations or profitability. In engineering, they are used to identify potential safety hazards in a design or process.

See also

• Risk management
• Hazard identification
• Risk analysis
• Risk communication

References

Risk Assessment Resources
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