Risk Assessment Severity Scale

Risk Assessment Severity Key

Assessing the likelihood of a hazard and the severity of outcome is based on the following severity scale for physical and psychological injuries:

Severity Scale	1	2	3	4	5
Likely injury	Minor non-immobilising injury or trauma not requiring hospital treatment	Non-immobilising injury or trauma but requiring hospital treatment	Immobilising injury or trauma requiring hospital treatment	Severe injury or trauma requiring urgent hospital treatment	Very severe life-threatening event

and a likelihood scale for a hazard occurrence:

Likelihood Scale	1	2	3	4	5
Hazard occurrence	Highly unlikely	Unlikely	Possible	Likely	Very likely

Multiplying the two produces the risk score. Such a quantitative approach highlights priorities for management. An example is shown below:

Hazard	Likelihood	Severity	Risk Score	Management
Roadside walking	2	4	8	Keep group single file
Bag snatch	3	1	3	Valuables should left in hotel safe
Steep, unstable slopes	4	2	8	Advise suitable footwear