RAM Risk & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In RAM risk assessment, which risk matrix dimension captures the severity of a failure's operational consequence?
- Probability of occurrence
- Detection rating
- Consequence severity (Correct answer)
- Exposure frequency
Correct answer: Consequence severity
Consequence severity rates the impact of a failure on safety, operations, or cost, forming one axis of the risk matrix.
Question 2: Which regulatory standard specifically governs functional safety for electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems?
- ISO 9001
- IEC 61511
- IEC 61508 (Correct answer)
- MIL-STD-882
Correct answer: IEC 61508
IEC 61508 is the foundational international standard for functional safety of E/E/PE safety-related systems.
Question 3: A compliance audit reveals that preventive maintenance intervals exceed manufacturer recommendations. This is BEST classified as:
- A safety hazard
- A compliance gap (Correct answer)
- An acceptable deviation
- A design deficiency
Correct answer: A compliance gap
Exceeding recommended maintenance intervals without formal justification constitutes a compliance gap against the governing maintenance policy.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) in the context of RAM risk compliance?
- Quantify failure rates using field data
- Systematically identify deviations from design intent that cause hazards (Correct answer)
- Determine minimum crew requirements for operations
- Establish spare parts inventory levels
Correct answer: Systematically identify deviations from design intent that cause hazards
HAZOP uses guide words to systematically explore deviations from design intent, identifying potential hazards and operability problems.
Question 5: In Risk-Based Inspection (RBI), which two factors combine to prioritize inspection resources?
- Mean time between failures and repair cost
- Probability of failure and consequence of failure (Correct answer)
- Inspection frequency and detection capability
- Asset age and replacement cost
Correct answer: Probability of failure and consequence of failure
RBI prioritizes inspection effort based on the product of probability of failure (PoF) and consequence of failure (CoF).
Question 6: Under US OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) standard 29 CFR 1910.119, which element requires documenting equipment design basis and material specifications?
- Management of Change
- Process Hazard Analysis
- Process Safety Information (Correct answer)
- Mechanical Integrity
Correct answer: Process Safety Information
Process Safety Information (PSI) requires documentation of technology, equipment, and chemical hazard information to support safe operations.
Question 7: Which risk acceptance criterion defines the maximum tolerable risk level above which risk must be reduced regardless of cost?
- ALARP upper bound (Correct answer)
- ALARP lower bound
- De minimis threshold
- Risk tolerance band
Correct answer: ALARP upper bound
The ALARP upper bound (intolerable line) sets the maximum risk level above which risk is unacceptable regardless of cost-benefit considerations.
RAM Risk & Compliance 2
In RAM risk assessment, which risk matrix dimension captures the severity of a failure's operational consequence?