Selecting Appropriate Words for Naming the Rows and Columns of Risk Assessment Matrices.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety and Health
• Risk Management
• Human Factors

Background:

• Risk assessment matrices are standard tools in occupational safety and health for evaluating hazards.
• These matrices typically use rows and columns labeled with terms related to severity, likelihood, or exposure.
• Selecting appropriate terminology for these labels is crucial for effective risk communication and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assist designers in selecting optimal English words and phrases for naming the rows and columns of risk assessment matrices.
• To provide data-driven recommendations for terminology used in occupational safety and health risk evaluations.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among undergraduate students in engineering and occupational safety and health programs.
• Participants rated 16 English words and phrases on their suitability for representing severity, likelihood, and extent of exposure on a 100-point scale.
• Analysis involved comparing average ratings from 84 completed surveys to identify appropriately spaced terminology sets.

Main Results:

• Identified and recommended specific word sets for different factors within risk assessment matrices.
• Recommended sets include: 3, 4, and 5 terms for severity; 3, 4, 5, and 6 terms for likelihood; and 2 and 3 terms for extent of exposure.
• Numerical ratings for each word and phrase were established based on average survey responses.

Conclusions:

• The study provides evidence-based recommendations for selecting terms in risk assessment matrices, enhancing clarity and consistency.
• The methodology can be applied to future research for refining risk assessment tools.
• The recommended word sets and numerical ratings can aid in the creation or revision of occupational risk assessment matrices.