[Importance of risk assessment in occupational medicine]

The principles of risk assessment and its relevance in the working environment are discussed. Occupational health protection is a complicated process comprising risk assessment, health monitoring and eventually treatment of irreversible health effects. Risk assessment consists of the following four steps: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment and risk characterization. Although established for environmental protection, risk assessment is also used in occupational hazard identification and determination of priorities and risk management in occupational health and safety. In Croatia, the methodology of risk assessment is still undeveloped. The paper emphasises the role of occupational health in risk assessment and in implementation of the results of this complex process in the working environment.