HSE-SAF-TBL-00-0004

SAFETY MANUAL
Risk Ranking Matrix

Rev. 1
20 Jan 08
Page 1 of 3

1.0 EVENT FREQUENCY

1.1.1. Figure 1 lists event frequency definitions. An event frequency is in one of five
order-of-magnitude categories, ranging from Frequent (occurring at a frequency
greater than once in ten years) to Extremely Improbable (occurring at a frequency
less than once in 10,000 years). Qualitative descriptors assist in determining the
frequency category.
1.1.2. For risk evaluation, frequency shall be assigned based on an individual frequency
rather than a societal or population frequency. An average individual frequency
may be determined by dividing the population frequency by the affected
population. For example, if we expect five events per year of dust getting into the
eyes of personnel at a plant with 200 personnel exposed to dust, the average
individual frequency is 2.5 X 10-2 events per year [the population frequency (five
times per year) divided by the exposed population (200)]. This event would fall
into Frequency Category Occasional (O).

1.1.3.The cumulative effect of very frequent events may have greater

implications than the sum of the individual events (e.g., multiple reportable
environmental events or high recordable injury rate). The cumulative
effect of events should be handled by processes other than this procedure.
2.0

EVENT SEVERITY
Figure 1 lists severity definitions. An event will have associated impact from
one or more consequences: personnel, public, environment, and economic. If
an event has more than one consequence, use the highest severity level to
represent the severity of the event.

3.0

RISK MATRIX
Figure 1 is the Q-Chem Risk Ranking Matrix. The combination of the event
frequency and the severity will determine the event risk level (1 through 5) on
the Risk Matrix.

4.0

RISK REDUCTION
Actions required to address events are based on risk level. Table 1 presents
risk reduction actions required for each risk level.

HSE-SAF-TBL-00-0004

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HSE-SAF-TBL-00-0004

SAFETY MANUAL
Risk Ranking Matrix

Rev. 1
20 Jan 08
Page 2 of 3

HSE-SAF-TBL-00-0004

Page 2 of 3

HSE-SAF-TBL-00-0004

SAFETY MANUAL
Risk Ranking Matrix

Rev. 1
20 Jan 08
Page 3 of 3

HSE-SAF-TBL-00-0004

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