Impact of hazard risks
Hazard risks undermine objectives, and the level of impact of such risks is a measure of their significance. Risk management has its longest history and earliest origins in the management of hazard risks. Hazard risk management is closely related to the management of insurable risks. Remember that a hazard (or pure) risk can only have a negative outcome.
Hazard risk management is concerned with issues such as health and safety at work, fire prevention, damage to property and the consequences of defective products. Hazard risks can cause disruption to normal operations, as well as resulting in increased costs and poor publicity associated with disruptive events.
Hazard risks are related to business dependencies, including IT and other supporting services. There is increasing dependence on the IT infrastructure of most organizations and IT systems can be disrupted by computer breakdown or fire in server rooms, as well as virus infection and deliberate hacking or computer attacks.
Theft and fraud can also be significant hazard risks for many organizations. This is especially true for organizations handling cash or managing a significant number of financial transactions. Techniques relevant to the avoidance of theft and fraud include adequate security procedures, segregation of financial duties, and authorization and delegation procedures, as well as the vetting of staff prior to employment.