Occupational Safety and Health
The risk matrix is still one of the most effective techniques through which many organizations use in risk assessment and mitigation (Leveson, 2011). In assessing risk, there are various risk matrices recommended by the different standardization organization and experts. Many organizations have adopted the 4x4 Mil-Std 882C (a military-standard) risk matrix as one the reliable matrices in mitigating against hazards. The 4x4 Mil-Std 882C risk matrix has been a military standard adopted by the various subsets under the US Department of Defense (DOD) though newer and more reliable upgrade in now available. The matrix quantifies the likelihood of a hazard cropping up in any given procedure (Lutz, 2000).
In the automobile industry, installation of a 500-ton metal press is a risky task and requires precision. The paper offers an explanation on how the 4x4 Mil-Std 882C risk matrix method ensures a proper risk assessment for such an installation process. First, an installation of a 500-ton metal press, prior and adequate assessment is vital. The task has some likelihood of leading to some hazards. On the other side, after the hazards occur, there will a varied set of consequences resulting from any of these hazards. The likelihood and severity of risk assessment forms a base on which the 4 ×4 matrix operates.
For instance, there are predictable hazards that can occur during the task and they may undermine the safety of the whole installation process. The hazards may include minor and major injuries, breakage of equipment, minor and major human error, just to name a few.
The entire risk assessment pattern show that lowering risk is based on a methodological and systematic identification of all the possible outcomes. The 4x4 Mil-Std 882C risk matrix allows the automobile industry assess any hazards and act accordingly prior to initiating any task. In the case above, should the risk evaluator note that the hoisting equipment is faulty, then he weighs that on the consequences that brings about and makes a decision as to how that risk may be mitigated. The control and suppression of any risk emerging in the installation determine what ought to change before the process kicks off. In this case, therefore risk evasion management ensures that all the possible hazards are dealt with beforehand.
References
Leveson, Nancy (2011). Engineering a Safer World - Systems Thinking Applied To Safety. Engineering Systems. The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-01662-9. 23-7.
Lutz, Robyn R. (2000). Software Engineering for Safety: A Roadmap. The Future of Software Engineering. ACM Press. ISBN 1-58113-253-0. …
