Citation

Bakovic Z. J. Australas. Coll. Road Saf. 2013; 24(2): 58-64.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Australasian College of Road Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Risk Assessment is a key component of the Risk Management process and is commonly relied upon when undertaking Road Safety Audits and Risk Management Plans. The Standards Australia Document, 'AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk management - Principals and guidelines' provides the industry standard framework for undertaking Risk Management.

Currently the 'Risk Assessment' component of the risk management process is broken up into three distinct steps: Risk Identification, Risk Analysis and Risk Evaluation. This paper explores some of the limitations associated with these steps, when considered in the context of road safety, and discusses opportunities to enhance the existing process.

The paper will also discuss how different organisations within Australia interpret the guidelines differently and the impact this can have on risk ratings and/or consequence of that risk. In addition, the influence the public and media can have on risk ratings will also be discussed.

The paper will also use examples to demonstrate that a robust risk assessment is more than just confirming that design standards have been met, but that sometimes compliance or non-compliance with standards can have a counterintuitive impact on the actual risk.

Language: en