What distinguishes risk assessment from risk management in OEH?

• A. They are interchangeable.
• B. Risk assessment estimates risk; risk management selects and implements controls to reduce risk.
• C. Risk assessment is for financial risk; risk management is for safety.
• D. Risk management only documents history.

Answer: (B)

In occupational and environmental health, how bad a hazard is and how likely the health impact is are estimated in risk assessment, while risk management is about what to do about that risk. A risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates exposure, and characterizes the probability and severity of adverse health effects. It provides the information you need to understand the level of risk. Risk management takes that information and decides which controls to implement to reduce the risk, then puts those controls in place and checks whether they’re effective, adjusting as needed. So the assessment answers “how big is the risk?” and the management answers “what actions will we take to reduce it?” The other statements mix up roles or miss the action-oriented nature of risk management.