Risk (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what risk is, the types that exist in various areas and how to prevent them. Also, the difference between risk and danger.

Risk - danger — The consequences of a risk can be mitigated or avoided.

What is risk?

We call risk the proximity or possibility of harm or harm occurring and its possible consequences. This damage can affect a person or group and is the result of an event or action. The risks occur in both domestic and work settings, social settings, on public roads, among others. For example: A young man put the lives of passers-by at risk by driving recklessly on the avenue.

The risks They are classified according to their intensity (high, moderate or low) and the frequency with which they can occur. For example: It is prohibited to travel through that area, as there is a high risk of collapse. In many cases, risks are anticipated and evaluated to reduce the probability of their occurrence or to mitigate their consequences. That is why it is necessary to take all the necessary precautions and measures to prevent risks.

What types of risks exist?

Risk - Danger - Nevada — Natural risks affect both humans and animals.

There are various types of risks, some of them are:

Natural risks. They imply the probability that a natural fact or event will occur in a certain physical space, such as heavy snowfall, heat or cold waves, hurricanes, electrical storms, avalanches, droughts, floods, forest fires, among others. These events usually cause both direct and indirect damage. Direct damages are those that affect individuals, livestock, agriculture, buildings, property, among others. Indirect damages can be, for example, the decrease in tourism in the area due to the damage.
Biological risks. They imply the probability that the health of people or other animals is affected by the presence of organisms such as endoparasites, viruses, bacteria, spores, cell cultures, fungi, among others. The damage caused by these agents can be parasitic, infectious or reflected in other ways, such as allergies. The transmission of these organisms occurs through animals, certain instruments or between people.
Economic risks. They involve the vulnerability and uncertainty that occur when large investments are made and the possibilities that the economic situation may alter or differ from what was stipulated and affect said investments. The risks can be diverse, whether due to public or business policies, the appearance of other competitors, changes in consumer purchasing, among others. To reduce these types of risks, short-term investing is usually used because the sooner the profit is obtained, the less chance that the risks will affect the profits.
Financial risks. They imply the vulnerability that a certain company presents by not being able to cover its financial responsibilities. These risks are closely linked to economic risks.
Occupational risks. They involve the probability that individuals will suffer harm as a result of work. Damage can be: psychosocial (usually due to bad work environments or excessive workload) or physical, which is caused by poor working conditions, such as poor lighting, very low or very high ambient temperatures, annoying noises, among others.
Chemical risks. They imply the probability of an organism or the environment of suffering damage when exposed to chemical agents, such as arsenic, cyanide, ethanol, uranium, calcium chloride, carbon monoxide, among many others. The damage caused by handling or contact with chemical agents varies depending on the agent; there are more or less dangerous agents that can be flammable, corrosive, radioactive, irritating or toxic.
Health risks. They imply the probability that a certain event affects the health of people or groups. This event can have a natural cause, such as a pandemic, or be caused by humans, such as a gas leak in a factory.

Risk prevention

In many environments, such as work or economic, work is done to mitigate the risks that actions or decisions may have. What is sought is to propose ways to reduce all harm that may occur in the futurewhich implies knowing and anticipating the consequences of actions. For this, the risks are analyzed and measures are taken based on the probabilities of the incident occurring.

In work environments (such as factories, industries or offices) We seek to protect the integrity of employeesso the dangerousness of the actions carried out to reduce their impact must be recognized. To achieve this, control, prevention and awareness measures are taken, which must be followed by all employees. These include: respect for schedules, the use of appropriate equipment, correct sanitation of the physical space, the correct and prudent use of machinery, among many others.

Difference between risk and danger

The terms “risk” and “danger” are related and They are usually used as synonymsHowever, there is a fundamental difference between them.

Hazard is any event or source that has the potential to cause harm.On the other hand, risk is the probability of that event occurring and its possible consequences. That is, not every dangerous situation is inherently risky. Many actions are dangerous, but the risks of them causing harm can be mitigated or reduced.

For example: Within a turbine company, we work with a chemical substance that is dangerous if it comes into contact with the skin, but the risk of it causing harm to workers is low since they use the appropriate equipment to handle this agent. chemical.