Risk Assessment

PRINCIPLES by Nikka Nissa Z. Lopez

 Hazard

o Something with the potential to cause harm

Risk

o The likelihood that the harm from a particular hazard is

realized
 RISK ASSESSMENT
o is a careful examination of what, in the
workplace, could cause harm to people, so
that the employer can weigh up whether he
or she has taken enough precautions or
should do more to prevent harm
o it is a way of determining risks and dangers
in work places

WHAT IS A RISK ASSESSMENT?

Risk assessment is the process where you:
Identify hazards.

Analyze or evaluate the risk associated with that

hazard.
Determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control the
hazard.
Risk assessments are very important as they form an integral
part of a good occupational health and safety management plan.
They help to:
o Create awareness of hazards and risks.
o Identify who may be at risk (employees, cleaners, visitors,
contractors, the public, etc).
o Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more
should be done.
o Prevent injuries or illnesses when done at the design or planning
stage.
o Prioritize hazards and control measures.

Why is risk assessment

important?
 Financial reasons
Legal reasons
Moral and ethical reasons

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
CARRY OUT A RISK
ASSESSMENT ?
 the process to estimate the nature and probability of

adverse health effects in humans who may be exposed to

chemicals in contaminated environmental media, now or

in the future

Human Health Risk

Assessment
 Planning - Planning and Scoping process
the process of a human health risk assessment with
planning and research.

Step 1 - Hazard Identification

Examines whether a stressor has the potential to cause
harm to humans and/or ecological systems, and if so, under
what circumstances.

Human health risk assessment

includes 4 basic steps:
 Step 2 - Dose-Response Assessment

Examines the numerical relationship between

exposure and effects.

 Step 3 - Exposure Assessment

Examines what is known about the frequency,

timing, and levels of contact with a stressor

 Step 4 - Risk Characterization

Examines how well the data support

conclusions about the nature and extent of the risk

from exposure to environmental stressors

 the process for evaluating how likely it is that the
environment may be impacted as a result of exposure to
one or more environmental stressors such as chemicals,
land change, disease, invasive species and climate change

Ecological Risk
Assessment
 Planning - Planning and Scoping process
EPA begins the process of a Ecological risk assessment
with planning and research.

Phase 1 - Problem Formulation

Information is gathered to help determine what, in terms
of plants and animals, is at risk and what needs to be
protected.

An ecological risk assessment

includes 3 phases:
 Phase 2 - Analysis

This is the determination of what plants and animals are

exposed and to what degree they are exposed, and if that
level of exposure is likely or not to cause harmful
ecological effects.
 Phase 3 - Risk Characterization

Risk characterization includes two major components:

risk estimation and risk description. "Risk estimation"
combines exposure profiles and exposure-effects. "Risk
description" provides information important for interpreting
the risk results and identifies a level for harmful effects on
the plants and animals of concern.
 1. Identifying hazards
2. Assessing the risk of harm
3. Assessing existing control measures, to see if they
are adequate
4. Assessing if extra controls are needed
5. Reviewing later on, to see if the controls are
working

Basic steps in a risk assessment

can be identified as:
 https://
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard_risk.html
http://
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/risk_assessment.h
tml
http://
www.epa.gov/risk/about-risk-assessment#whatisrisk
http://www.epa.gov/risk/human-health-risk-assessment
http://
www.epa.gov/risk/conducting-ecological-risk-assessment

References