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Risk Rating Matrix
I5 | ||||||||||
| Significant 4 | H8 | H41, H45 | H18, H31 | H23, H23 annex, HL21a | ||||||
| Moderate 3 | H11, H12, H16, HL11, HL12, HL14 | H24, H26, H38, H39, HL2, HL22, HL3, HL49, HL7 | H14, H43, HL18, HL47 | H17, HL15, HL19, HL20, HL5, HL6 | HL4 | |||||
| Minor 2 | H1, H4, H5, HL1, HL21, HL23, HL8, HL9 | H25, H9, HL24a, HL24b | HL10, HL24 | H33 | ||||||
| Insignificant 1 | H40 | |||||||||
| Negligible 1 | Rare 2 | Unlikely 3 | Possible 4 | Probable 5 | ||||||
Likelihood | ||||||||||
| Key |
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Risk Category Definition
Very high (VH) risk these are classed as primary or critical risks requiring immediate attention. They may have a high or low likelihood of occurrence, but their potential consequences are such that they must be treated as a high priority. This may mean that strategies should be developed to reduce or eliminate the risks, but also that mitigation in the form of (multi-agency) planning, exercising and training for these hazards should be put in place and the risk monitored on a regular frequency. Consideration should be given to planning being specific to the risk rather than generic.
High (H) risk these risks are classed as significant. They may have a high or low likelihood of occurrence, but their potential consequences are sufficiently serious to warrant appropriate consideration after those risks classed as very high. Consideration should be given to the development of strategies to reduce or eliminate the risks, but also mitigation in the form of at least (multi-agency) generic planning, exercising and training should be put in place and the risk monitored on a regular frequency.
Medium (M) risk these risks are less significant, but may cause upset and inconvenience in the short term. These risks should be monitored to ensure that they are being appropriately managed and consideration given to their being managed under generic emergency planning arrangements.
Low (L) risk these risks are both unlikely to occur and not significant in their impact. They should be managed using normal or generic planning arrangements and require minimal monitoring and control unless subsequent risk assessments show a substantial change, prompting a move to another risk category.
(Source Emergency Preparedness (HM Government, 2005 - P.200)).
Risk Review Methodology
A number of mechanisms exist to ensure that the risk assessments contained within the West Mercia LRF Community Risk Register are maintained appropriately. The structure below formalises the risk review mechanisms and identifies actions required by the various groups or individuals to ensure that reviews are performed:
1. The requirement to implement plans as the result of a major incident will cause a full review of relevant risk assessment by all responders, either independently or through the incident debrief process. Findings should be reported to the Risk Assessment Working Group.
2. The Local Resilience Forum will discuss risk as a standing agenda item to identify known developments locally, regionally, nationally or even internationally that may affect the risk register contents. Identified risk development will be forwarded to the Risk Assessment Working Group for consideration and alteration of risk assessments as appropriate.
3. The risk contextualisation is to be considered on an annual basis by the Risk Assessment Working Group and altered as necessary.
4. The Risk Assessment Working Group will consider the Community Risk Register against the revised Regional Risk Register, when amendments are notified.
5. The frequency that risk assessment review will be performed relates to the position of an individual risk assessment on the Risk Rating Matrix, assuming that no other mechanism has triggered a review:
- Very High Risk 6 months
- High Risk 12 months
- Medium Risk 24 months
- Low Risk 36 months
6. The contents of Individual Risk Assessments will be considered by all Category 1 and Category 2 responders when performing resilience planning. Any amendments required to risk assessments will be notified to the Risk Assessment Working Group for consideration.
7. Delivery of exercises to test plans on risks contained within the Community Risk Register should lead to informed reviews of risk assessments. Allocated exercise leads should ensure that appropriateness of risk assessment contents are considered as part of the exercise review process. Outcomes should be reported to the Risk Assessment Working Group for alteration of risk assessment as necessary.
8. The risk assessment process will be reviewed on a four yearly basis to identify development needs. Cabinet Office directives relating to the risk assessment process will be implemented when notified.
Additional Information
The risk assessment process has got to remain dynamic. Therefore, any observation of risk or risk mitigation development must be notified to the Risk Assessment Working Group. This information may come from Category 1 or Category 2 responder organisations and will require the Risk Assessment Working Group to consider the information put forward prior to any alteration of risk. All risks within the Community Risk Register have been allocated Lead Assessors. These Lead Assessors, with the assistance of the Risk Assessment Working Group, are to ensure that risk reviews are performed at appropriate periods and alterations made to the risk assessments as necessary. Alterations to risk assessments will be confirmed via the Risk Assessment Working Group and Local Resilience Forum, prior to publication.