Assessing the Success of Risk Assessment and Factors Affecting Its Success

Abstract

Evaluating the success of a risk assessment is demanding, and a clear description of a correctly performed risk assessment is lacking. To deepen understanding of this significant topic, ten occupational health and safety specialists and managers were interviewed, and a Delphi survey was completed by 13 respondents. The participants were from various industries, public authority, and consulting. The interviewees acknowledged the importance of evaluating risk assessment although they infrequently assessed the process or the results. Based on the Delphi survey, individual features affecting the risk assessment are, for example, understanding of the entity and communication and interaction skills. Organizational features influencing risk assessment include the organization’s commitment to safety and safety management, and risk assessment being a part of the safety management system. Future research topics include constructing a model for evaluating the quality and success of the risk assessment.