I will fix the arrow. Sorry about that.

I understand the concern regarding extent but disagree. Few plants even, have lives more than 30 years without significant modifications. Almost no research equipment has lives longer than 3 years to, at most perhaps 10 years. Fewer still are not modified in that time period. And arguing that a research unit with a life of three years has ¼ the risk for one with a life of 12 years – to me -is accurate but spacious. The risk should be measured over the life of the unit, however long or short. On an relative scale there may be a difference. There clearly is mathematically. On an absolute scale I would argue the risk assumption basis is the same.

I understand if you feel differently. Thanks for the comment.

Richard,

Thanks for the article. Always nice to promote and share content like this.

For those wanting to use or share or teach with this article, note that the risk matrix, based on Mil-Spec 882D, has the bottom arrow going the wrong direction. Or viewed differently, the severity boxes decrease left to right which is the opposite of most risk matrices.

Also, a safety colleague of mine goes absolutely bonkers when people present frequency/probability/likelihood without a real time domain.  For example in the definition chart under “rare” it states “likely to occur some time in the life of an item”.  So consider two items with the same consequences, but one has a lifetime of a month and one has a lifetime of ten years. The former has a true frequency 120 times that of the latter which should be viewed as problematic.

Best,

Craig

Craig A. Merlic

Professor of Chemistry

UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Executive Director 

UC Center for Laboratory Safety

http://cls.ucla.edu

Los Angeles, CA  90095-1569

Some of the readers of this list may be interested in my latest article.

Laboratory Hazard Analysis And Risk Assessment

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/laboratory-hazard-analysis-risk-assessment-richard-palluzi-tvewe

Thank you

Richard Palluzi

BE(ChE), ME(ChE), PE, CSP,FAIChE

Pilot plant and laboratory consulting, safety, design, reviews, and training

www.linkedin.com/in/richardppalluzillc/

www.pilotplants.us

Richard P Palluzi LLC

72 Summit Drive

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

rpalluzi**At_Symbol_Here**verizon.net

908-285-3782

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