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Note that 6.4.1 in The Risk Assessment Process is “Select a risk scoring system.” Why do so? It is necessary in the management of risks to establish priorities for action. That can be done through a risk scoring system – risk levels being Low, Moderate, Serious or High, or a variation thereof. And it is important that the people involved in the risk assessment process understand what those terms mean and what action levels are implied by the terms used.

The risk assessment matrix shown in Figure 1.3 is a composite of matrices that include numerical values for likelihood and severity levels that are transposed into qualitative risk gradings. It was originally developed for people who prefer to deal with numbers rather than qualitative indicators. To provide a one‐page tool that could be used by safety professionals who wanted to get shop floor personnel involved in risk assessments, extensions were made to include severity and likelihood descriptions and action levels.

Figure 1.3 Risk matrix example.

In two instances, shop floor personnel said to safety professionals that relating numbers to each other first – such as 6–12 – was a big help in understanding whether the risk category was moderate or high‐risk. If using a risk assessment matrix in which numbers are used to begin with to establish risk levels makes the process more understandable and acceptable for operating personnel, that should be encouraged.

It is important to understand that the numbers in Figure 1.3 were intuitively derived: they are semi‐quantitative. Thus, the numbers have value only in relation to each other. And that is the case for all risk scoring systems that are not based on hard probability and severity numbers, which are rarely available.

Note that this Risk Assessment Matrix pertains to personal injury and illness, system loss or down time (from any source), and environmental release. Others may not be as inclusive.