Whilst the purpose of risk assessment includes the prevention of occupational risks, and this should always be the goal, it will not always be achievable in practice. Where elimination of risks is not possible, the risks should be reduced and the residual risk controlled. At a later stage, as part of a review programmed, such residual risk will be reassessed and the possibility of elimination of the risk, perhaps in the light of new knowledge, can be reconsidered.

Whilst the purpose of risk assessment includes the prevention of occupational risks, and this should always be the goal, it will not always be achievable in practice. Where elimination of risks is not possible, the risks should be reduced and the residual risk controlled. At a later stage, as part of a review programmed, such residual risk will be reassessed and the possibility of elimination of the risk, perhaps in the light of new knowledge, can be reconsidered.

Threat and Hazard Assessment

A useful method of threat assessment is to categorize threats and hazards by type. Hazard assessment will often include health and safety aspects, as well as contingency planning, especially where extreme weather, accident or other ‘accidental’ or environmental events are concerned. Nonetheless, hazard-derived risks should be included in the site risk register and their mitigation recorded just as with threat-derived risks.

Generally, threats and hazards fall into these categories:

• Threats to life
• Threats to property and assets
• Threats to operations

This categorization may be helpful when first considering the range of threat and hazard to which a site or development may be subject.

Typical threats for a Building site

Threats that may be considered typical will vary according to the type and location of the site. The following

are suggestions but each site will be individual.

• Theft of plant
• Theft of fuel
• Theft of materials from the site
• Vandalism
• Arson
• Breaches of security into existing buildings
• Robbery or attacks on the Building employees
• Reconnaissance of development to discover details of completed building
• Bombs (perhaps planted for detonation after completion) (Area Evaluation)
• Intruders intent on committing suicide
• Protesters (either related to the site activity or simply for publicity)