Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Flashcards

A Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) is typically performed at which stage of a project or system's life cycle?

Answer: In the early conceptual or design phase, before detailed design is completed

PHA is conducted early in the conceptual or design phase to identify potential hazards when changes are least costly to make, before detailed engineering is finalized.

What distinguishes quantitative risk assessment (QRA) from qualitative risk assessment?

Answer: QRA uses numerical probability values and consequence estimates to calculate risk; qualitative uses descriptive categories like high/medium/low

Quantitative risk assessment assigns numerical probabilities and consequence magnitudes to calculate specific risk values, while qualitative assessment uses descriptive scales without precise numerical calculations.

In a risk assessment, 'inherent risk' (also called 'gross risk') refers to:

Answer: The risk level before any controls or safeguards are applied to the hazard

Inherent (gross) risk is the level of risk present before any controls are applied — it represents the raw hazard potential without mitigation measures in place.

When conducting a hazard identification walk-through, which approach is most consistent with best practices for the CSP exam?

Answer: Use a systematic, pre-planned checklist covering all work areas and tasks, involving workers who perform the tasks

Best-practice hazard identification walk-throughs use systematic checklists covering all areas and actively involve workers, who have valuable firsthand knowledge of hazards in their tasks.

Which of the following best describes an 'acceptable risk' level in occupational safety?

Answer: A risk level that society or an organization deems tolerable given the benefits and costs of further risk reduction

Acceptable risk is not zero risk but a level deemed tolerable by stakeholders (workers, management, regulators, society) after weighing the benefits of an activity against the costs and feasibility of further risk reduction.

What is the primary advantage of using a checklist-based hazard identification method over a brainstorming-based method?

Answer: Checklists ensure that known, previously identified hazards are not overlooked due to familiarity bias

Checklist methods are most effective at ensuring that well-known hazards are consistently evaluated and not overlooked, though they may miss novel hazards not previously experienced.

Which risk assessment technique is best suited for analyzing complex systems with multiple failure modes and quantifying the probability of a top-level undesired event?

Answer: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)

Fault Tree Analysis is a top-down, deductive technique that uses Boolean logic (AND/OR gates) to model how combinations of failures lead to an undesired top event, and can be quantified using failure probability data.