CAMO Risk Management – Mitigation & Control Measures
We have looked at how we can identify and evaluate risk in previous posts; when we evaluate risk it is possible that we might identify risk that is at a level we cannot accept to work with.
With any risk value – the lower the number, the better; and typically, a threshold will be set at which a risk value becomes unacceptable. So, what can we do and how can we look at making risk acceptable to work with?
We can consider a hierarchy or measures:
- Elimination – This is removal of the hazard from the environment.
- Substitution – Change the method of operation, activity or scenario to one where risk is removed or lowered.
- Isolation – Can we move the activity, scenarios or circumstance(s) to isolate the risk.
- Verification – Do we and can we ensure that the process or procedure works and is followed.
- Administration – Create or change procedures, implement training and consider warning sign / lights / sounds.
- Training – Provide training to enhance awareness of risks, control measures and for complex tasks.
While we might like to eliminate risk, this is not always possible or practical. Creating mitigation or control measures to reduce a negative event is commonly what we consider where we cannot eliminate the risk itself.
The solution to a risk has to be well thought out and planned; it can evolve with feedback and observations over time, so it is important to enable a mechanism that allows this growth and improvement.
After we develop mitigations and control measures, we can re evaluate a risk assessment and consider a revised risk value with the mitigations and control measures now in place. For some risks that might have been considered not acceptable, additional controls we can implement might allow the risk value fall below a non-acceptable threshold.
Once acronym to be aware of is “ALARP” which means As Low As Reasonably Practicable and offers a good appreciation of the environment when determining control measures appropriate for reducing risk.
Risk and Risk management sits at the heart of the Safety Management Systems SMS.
Follow us to learn more and why not take a look at the different courses we offer including Risk & Safety Management https://ialta.aero/aviation-courses/risk-safety-management