Formal–statistical methods - Probabilistic Safety Assessment for Optimum Nuclear Power Plant Life Management (PLiM) - page 62

Risk is an unavoidable concomitant factor in industrial activities. The
risk is objective, unexpected, occurs suddenly; this requires a prediction
of risk, its analysis, evaluation and management - a number of actions to
prevent risk factors or risk mitigation.
When working out the problems of risk and process safety special
attention is given to a systematic approach to recording and studying the
various factors affecting the risk factors, referred to as risk analysis.
Risk analysis is the process of hazard identification and risk assessment
for individuals, groups, facilities, environmental and other objects of
consideration.
Recall that the hazard means a source of potential harm or injury or
a situation with the possibility of damage, and hazard identification is
the process of identification and recognition of that hazard exists and of
defining its characteristics.
There are many such formulations of this concept, but in general risk
analysis is the process of hazard identification and assessment of possible
negative consequences as a result of violations in specific technological
systems and the representation of these effects in quantitative terms.
In the USA, 'process hazard analysis' is used instead of risk analysis
and has almost the same value.
Risk analysis is a largely subjective process during which we take into
account not only quantitative indicators but also indicators that are not
amenable to formalisation, such as attitudes and opinions of different social
groups, the possibility of compromise solutions, expert assessments, etc.
The variety of production activities, specific industrial facilities, and
their affiliation to a variety of industries reflects the multifaceted problem
of risk analysis.
A feature of technological risk analysis is that it considers potentially
negative consequences that may result from the failure of technical systems,
disruptions in production processes or errors on the part of staff. Of course,
negative impacts on staff and the environment in accident-free operation
of production (due to emission or leakage of hazardous or dangerous
substances, raw sewage, etc.) can also be considered
The results of risk analysis are essential to making informed and
rational decisions in determining the location and design of production
facilities, during transportation and storage of hazardous substances and
materials. Risk analysis uses widely formalised procedures and responses
to diverse situations that can confront management staff in their work,
especially in an emergency situation. The uncertainty under which
management must make decisions in many cases affects the methodology,
progress and outcomes of risk analysis. Methods used in the analysis should
focus primarily on the identification and assessment of possible losses in
the event of a failure, the cost of security and the benefits in implementing
a project.
Risk analysis has a number of general provisions, irrespective of the

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