ASP Risk Assessment and Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a preliminary hazard analysis (PHA)?
- To complete the final safety audit
- To identify potential hazards early in the design or planning stage before detailed analysis (Correct answer)
- To determine insurance rates
- To evaluate health risks after exposure
Correct answer: To identify potential hazards early in the design or planning stage before detailed analysis
A PHA identifies potential hazards and their consequences early in development, allowing risk reduction from the start.
PHA is an initial qualitative technique performed early in design. It is required by OSHA's PSM standard and provides a foundation for more detailed analyses like HAZOP and FMEA.
Question 2: What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative risk assessment?
- No difference
- Qualitative uses descriptive categories while quantitative uses numerical values to express risk levels (Correct answer)
- Qualitative is more accurate
- Quantitative can only be done by government agencies
Correct answer: Qualitative uses descriptive categories while quantitative uses numerical values to express risk levels
Qualitative uses descriptive categories; quantitative assigns numerical probability and consequence values.
Qualitative is faster and suitable when precise data is unavailable. Quantitative uses statistical methods, historical data, and simulations. Semi-quantitative methods combine elements of both.
Question 3: What is the concept of 'risk appetite' in organizational risk management?
- Amount of food at safety meetings
- The level of risk an organization is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives (Correct answer)
- Speed at which risks are identified
- Budget allocated for risk reduction
Correct answer: The level of risk an organization is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives
Risk appetite is the amount and type of risk an organization is willing to pursue or retain to achieve objectives.
Risk appetite differs from risk tolerance (acceptable variation around objectives) and risk threshold (specific unacceptable level). A well-defined appetite guides decision-making throughout the organization.
Question 4: What role does exposure assessment play in occupational risk management?
- Determines how many employees are on payroll
- Evaluates the magnitude, frequency, and duration of worker contact with specific hazards (Correct answer)
- Measures financial exposure from lawsuits
- Calculates equipment replacement cost
Correct answer: Evaluates the magnitude, frequency, and duration of worker contact with specific hazards
Exposure assessment determines the extent of worker contact with hazards: how much, how often, and for how long.
For chemical hazards: air monitoring, dermal assessment, biological monitoring. For physical hazards: noise dosimetry, vibration measurement, radiation dosimetry. Data is compared against OELs.
Question 5: What is a risk register and what information does it typically contain?
- List of employees who attended risk training
- A comprehensive document listing identified risks with their assessment, controls, ownership, and status (Correct answer)
- A financial ledger for insurance premiums
- A register of safety equipment serial numbers
Correct answer: A comprehensive document listing identified risks with their assessment, controls, ownership, and status
A risk register records all identified risks, their assessment, existing controls, additional actions needed, responsible persons, and review status.
The risk register is a living document regularly reviewed and updated. It typically contains risk ID, description, category, probability, severity, overall score, controls, residual risk, owner, and status.
Question 6: What is event tree analysis and when is it used?
- Analysis of tree-related hazards
- A forward-looking technique that traces possible outcomes from an initiating event through success/failure branches (Correct answer)
- Tracking environmental impact on trees
- Analyzing data in tree structures
Correct answer: A forward-looking technique that traces possible outcomes from an initiating event through success/failure branches
Event tree analysis traces forward from an initiating event through barriers, branching at each into success or failure paths.
At each barrier, the analysis branches into success and failure paths, creating a tree structure. Each terminal branch has an associated probability calculated by multiplying branch probabilities.
ASP Risk Assessment and Management 2
What is the purpose of a preliminary hazard analysis (PHA)?