Risk analysis strategies

The process by which the results of a risk analysis (i.e., risk estimates) are used to make decisions, either through relative ranking of risk-reduction strategies or through comparison with risk targets... 

Hazard and Risk Analysis Consideration should be given to identifying process hazards as early as possible in the process equipment design, so that measures can be taken to reduce or eliminate the hazards. Inherently safer design strategies, such as minimize, substitute, moderate, and simplify, should be implemented. 

A risk analysis is not an objective by itself, but is one of the elements of the design of a technically and economically efficient chemical process [1]. In fact, risk analysis reveals the process inherent weaknesses and provides means to correct them. Thus, risk analysis should not be considered as a police action, in the sense that, at the last minute, one wants to ensure that the process will work as intended. Risk analysis rather plays an important role during process design. Therefore, it is a key element in process development, especially in the definition of process control strategies to be implemented. A well-driven risk analysis not only leads to a safe process, but also to an economic process, since the process will be more reliable and give rise to less productivity loss. 

The software test strategy and detailed test scripts (protocol) are reviewed and approved by the Project Team. This review will verify that the test cases will stress the program interfaces, challenge the data boundaries and limits, and verily that the test cases are traceable to the appropriate clauses in the requirements specification deliverable. The review also verifies that the test cases adequately cover the risks identified in the Risk Analysis. The unit/ integration test results are documented by the programmer, and reviewed, approved, signed, and dated by QA. 

As part of an analysis with an existing model that has already undergone development and evaluation or when applying a newly evaluated and accepted model to a case-study, sensitivity analysis can be used to identify key sources of uncertainty that should be the target of additional data collection or research and to identify key sources of controllable variability that can be the focus of risk management strategies. 

In essence, the level of detail and quantification of assessment uncertainties should be related to the quality of the underlying data, the degree of refinement called for in the underlying exposure analysis and decision criteria specified by risk management strategies. 

Intervention studies usually measure relative or absolute risk. Analysis can either be done on (1) intention to treat, which compares outcome on the subjects assigned to each groups regardless of whether they continued with the intervention strategy, or (2) randomized treatment, which measures the outcome observed in the subjects being treated. The preferred method is intention to treat, which avoids bias that can arise from different levels of participation due to loss of follow-up (the loss of contact with subjects) however, the true effects of the intervention may sometimes be diminished. 

Klinke, A. and Renn, O. (2002) A new approach to risk evaluation and management risk-based, precaution-based, and discourse-based strategies. Risk Analysis 22(6) 1071-1094. 

Rogers, M. D. (2003a) Risk analysis under uncertainty, the Precautionary Principle, and the new EU chemicals strategy. Regulatory Pharmacology and Toxicology 37, 370-381. 

Rogers, M. D. (2003b) The European Commission s White Paper Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy A Review. Risk Analysis 23, 381-388. 

A. Klinke and O. Renn, A New Approach to Risk evaluation and Management Risk-based, Precaution-based and Discourse-based Strategies, Risk Analysis, 2002,22,1071. 

D.M. Riley, B. Fischhoff, M.J. Small and P. Fischbeck, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Risk-Reduction Strategies for Consumer Chemical Products, Risk Analysis, 2001, 21, 357. 

Risk Reduction Strategy and Analysis of the Advantages and Drawbacks for Perfluorooctane Sulphonate (PFOS), Final Report, Risk and Policy Analysts and BRE Environment, 2004. 

From an analysis of the strategy, circumstances that mandate action from industry or Government need refining. The strategy specifies that the submission of a draft risk reduction strategy from industry immediately follows submission and discussion of the available data on the chemical at the stakeholder forum. 

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