Hidden Danger: Reducing Residual Risk in Your Electrical Safety Program

Abstract

Residual risk is the amount of risk, associated with a task or process, remaining after inherent risks have been reduced by acceptable risk controls methodology. What if inherent risks are not completely identified? How do you know if the residual risk has been reduced to a level acceptable to the worker and to the organization? This paper explores these and other questions to provide insight into methods to search for and expose opportunities for continual improvement to reduce worker exposure to hazardous electrical energy. The paper discusses areas of potential hidden danger including management/leadership, facilities design, safe work practices, incident investigations, procurement, included workforce, and outsourcing.