What is the role of risk assessment in storage safety?

• A. To assign blame for incidents.
• B. To determine inventory levels.
• C. To identify hazards, evaluate likelihood and consequence, and implement controls to reduce risk.
• D. To set staff schedules.

Answer: (C)

Risk assessment in storage safety is a systematic process to identify hazards associated with stored materials and operations, evaluate how likely those hazards are to occur and how severe the consequences could be, and then implement controls to reduce the overall risk to an acceptable level. This approach guides decisions on safe storage practices—what can be stored together, required segregation, ventilation and temperature controls, containment, fire protection, security, and training—so incidents are prevented through understanding and managing risk. The goal is proactive safety, not blame or unrelated administrative tasks. For example, recognizing incompatibilities and applying appropriate controls tailors safety measures to the actual risk. The other options miss the point because risk assessment isn’t about assigning blame, determining inventory levels, or setting staff schedules.