Safety decision hierarchy, acceptable risk

When required by the results of the risk assessment, alternate proposals for the design and operational changes necessary to achieve an acceptable risk level would be recommended. In their order of effectiveness, the action listing shown in The Safety Decision Hierarchy mentioned in Chapter 15, Acceptable Risk, would be the base upon which remedial proposals are made. For each proposal, remediation cost would be determined and an estimate of its effectiveness in achieving risk reduction would be given. 

To assist those who are to decide if a risk is acceptable, a guide follows, in Figure 15.1, captioned The Safety Decision Hierarchy. It... 

Comments follow in support of the logic for the risk reduction actions and the significance of their order of effectiveness. They are excerpted from the chapter The Safety Decision Hierarchy in Innovations in Safety Management In all but the rare situation, application of this hierarchy will result in attaining an acceptable risk level. 

It should be recognized that application of The Safety Decision Hierarchy will, in all but the exceptional situations, attain an acceptable risk level. 

Follow Up on Actions Taken. Although a hazard analysis and a risk assessment result from applying the steps in the preceding outline, good management requires that the remaining steps in The Safety Decision Hierarchy be taken Measure the effectiveness of the actions taken determine that the residual risk is acceptable or unacceptable and start over if the risk is unacceptable. Follow-up activity would determine that the ... 

If the followup activity indicates that the residual risk is not acceptable, the thought process set forth in the safety decision hierarchy would again be applied, commencing with hazard identification and analysis. 

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