Verbal Categories and Point-Based Ranking in Risk Assessment Matrix Attributes

The key component of the occupational safety management system is occupational risk assessment of identified hazards, often implemented using a table format that is called a risk assessment matrix. Columns and rows in the matrix refer to occupational risk attributes, i.e., the likelihood of damage to life and (or) health of employee as a result of the impact of a hazard, as well as the severity of consequences of such impact (severity of injury or health impairment). The problems of the choice of relevant verbal descriptors of categories of likelihood and consequences, suitable names for rows and columns of the risk assessment matrix, as well as the representation of the point-based rankings for the respective categories of occupational risk attributes, ultimately allowing for the determination of risk priority levels and thus substantiating the prioritization and the depth of occupational risk management measures, have been considered. The results obtained can be useful for risk assessment matrix developers and facilitate the standardization of occupational risk assessment practices using the matrix method by employers