Risk matrix is a commonly used tool in risk assessment to assist companies in determining the risk levels of hazards. Due to its simplicity, the use of risk matrix is very widespread to the extent that some people assume that risk matrix is the only way to conduct risk assessment! However, risk matrix has plenty of limitations.
Risk Assessment
Resources for selecting risk assessment tool
Here's a link to some discussion on the selection of appropriate risk assessment tool.
Pretty handy information.
What is safe work procedure?
Currently there is no authoritative definition for safe work procedures internationally. SWP is some form of work statement or detailed job steps telling worker how to conduct a task safely. One of the key differences between risk assessment and safew work procedure is that risk levels are not assessed for each job step/hazard for SWP. To define SWP we have to be clear about the purpose of SWP.
Managing Risk
I’m now reading Managing Risk by Alan Waring and A. Ian Glendon (ISBN 1-86152-167-7). Quite an interesting book that discusses various aspects of risk management.
Chapter 4 of Waring and Glendon (1998) Culture and risk is particularly interesting. It presented a realistic picture of the complex nature of the interaction between culture and risk.
Use and misuse of QRA
Here’s an interesting website detailing some of the use and misuse of quantitative risk assessment (QRA).
Had also been reading Safety, Culture and Risk – The organisational causes of disasters by Andrew Hopkins (ISBN1-921022-25-6) which has a chapter that provides a critique of QRA. Quite an interesting read.
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