Introduction
Risk assessment is an important part of the management of an organization and considers possible accidents in terms of the probability and resilience of the organization. Anticipating the future, which may negatively affect the activities of the company and its employees, defensive reactions are developed to these problematic factors. Consistent risk assessment and timely response to them can be applied both in corporate activities and in the daily life of an individual.
In Everyday Life
Risk assessment allows in many cases to determine to what extent an accident is possible under a certain scenario. This can be calculated both quantitatively and qualitatively, covering not only the probabilities of the risk but also the various consequences. Risk management involves constant critical work of this nature, but it is also possible to deal with the assessment of opportunities and negative probabilities not only at work but also in life (Hubbard, 2020). In everyday life, risk assessment can significantly help in organizing household chores, for example, when buying household appliances. For example, when buying a new vacuum cleaner, I can assess the risks of its breakdown or cases of illiterate operation that can lead to a catastrophic situation. The risk assessment may be about arranging a time when, for example, I leave the kitchen where something is being prepared. I can assess the risks by thinking through this scenario, taking into account the high probability of smoke and the likely possibility of a fire of undetermined scale.
Risk management can be done even by choosing whether it makes sense to cross the road in the wrong place, depending on the time of day and traffic activity. Threats in this case, are rated in terms of probability, and depending on the traffic activity, I can assess the risk of the worst-case scenario and avoid it. Thus, in normal life, risk assessment is a daily activity that makes it possible to lead a more balanced, conscious and, most importantly, safe lifestyle.
Assessment Strategy
The principle of risk assessment is to identify the main threats within the framework of the organization’s activities. Observation represents the first stage of risk assessment when a careful walk around the office is enough to pay attention to things that may pose a risk (Landoll, 2021). Qualitative risk assessment does not have to be arithmetic, but it is received through a special equation, where the risk equals severity times probability (Settembre-Blundo et al., 2021). In this way, one can roughly calculate how problematic a risk is and prioritize the risks. For example, if the work of an organization involves driving cars for long distances, the risk of an accident is prioritized over medical injury received by the driver during years of work. If the office has a record of previous accidents, it must be obtained and studied in detail. This will allow one to find the main vulnerable points at risk and take appropriate measures to eliminate them in time.
Site-specific risk Assessment is another valuable way to clarify risks directly in the context of the location where the organization operates. When using this assessment method, you can notice the threats that appear depending on the specific conditions that change over time. For example, if weather conditions in winter affect employee morbidity, which increases the risk of COVID, then this is an example of what generic risk assessment is failing to capture. Another example is the principle of organization within the framework of diversity, which refers to giving employment to people with disabilities. An arising risk factor that needs attention is the safety of employees with disabilities, so special attention should be paid to how smoothly their work experience goes (Popov et al., 2021). Safety also depends on the cleanliness of the space, so talking to the office cleaning company for additional risk assessment also seems essential.
Management
Further, depending on a certain threat, there is a reaction to it in an attempt to reduce the risks of its manifestation. In the event that long hauls in an organization put drivers at risk, a holiday system for workers and hotel reservations can be provided. This will reduce driver fatigue, increase control over the work process and thus reduce risks. Another risk management option would be to install surveillance cameras that monitor whether the driver is sleeping or talking on the phone, for example.
Another way risks can be managed in an organization is through risk communication, i.e., the disclosure of a detected problem in order to inform all employees of the organization. If, as a result of a site-specific risk assessment, the threat of the spread of colds and SARS in winter is clarified, warning employees about this will be an important step in eliminating the risk. The alert will encourage employees to wear masks and maintain social distancing, reducing risk (McAleer, 2020). Communication between employees at the hierarchical and horizontal levels must be established, assuring employees of the confidentiality of the conversation with managers. Moreover, the control of detected risks should take place through retraining of employees in such a way that they take into account the new safety rules. In the event that workplace hygiene presents a problem in the context of the pandemic, all personnel must be notified. Additional training is required to maintain the cleanliness of workplaces, which will significantly reduce the risks of infection.
Conclusion
In this way, risk assessment demonstrates itself as a fundamental activity in an organization. Risks affect both workplace safety and employee productivity and psychological comfort within the teamwork. It is necessary to respond to the identified risks in a timely manner and eliminate the causes of the danger before they have time to cause significant harm to the company.
References
Hubbard, D. W. (2020). The failure of risk management: Why it’s broken and how to fix it. John Wiley & Sons.
Landoll, D. J. (2021). The security risk assessment handbook. Routledge.
McAleer, M. (2020). Prevention is better than the cure: Risk management of COVID-19. Journal of Risk and Financial Management 13(3), 46.
Popov, G., Lyon, B. K., & Hollcroft, B. D. (2021). Risk assessment: A practical guide to assessing operational risks. Wiley.
Settembre-Blundo, D., González-Sánchez, R., Medina-Salgado, S., & García-Muiña, F. E. (2021). Flexibility and resilience in corporate decision making: A new sustainability-based risk management system in uncertain times. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 22(2), 107-132.