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Resources: Know how - How to take a balanced approach to risk assessment

2 mins read
Is the growing culture of anxiety leading us to raise a generation who has never learned to play and experiment freely? What is a balanced approach to risk assessment? PJ White explains, very carefully, while watching out for hidden dangers.

1. Risk assessment is not about eliminating risk, it is about managing it. That means taking steps to minimise dangers, without losing what is worthwhile - such as the chance to play and opportunities for growth and learning. Some element of risk is unavoidable. After all, if there were no risk in life, there would be no insurance companies. Then where would we all be?

2. The jargon is useful. A hazard is something that has the capacity to cause harm. A risk is the chance of hurt or injury actually occurring. If you can remove a hazard, do so. If you cannot, reduce the chance of harm occurring until it is so low that it becomes acceptable. Have a procedure too for swift action to minimise any injury that might occur. If you do all this, and the risk is still unreasonably high, don't do the activity. This may call for fine judgment. It is not an exact science.

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