RiskScale.2: Severity of Events I
This scale defines the severity of events related to risks. Please use it in order to assess the levels of project related risks during the risk analysis. For
example let an expert estimate the likelihood of an event or apply it for your own assessment of risks based on suitable information that you have collected.
CONSEQUENCES
How severely could the event hurt someone or cause damage?
People
Environment
Financial
Catastrophic
Multiple deaths and / or multiple life
threatening injuries or exposures with
irreversible consequences (paralysis, brain
damage etc.)
Environmental disaster; multiple fatality of many species
or damage to a habitat with a potential for recovery
greater than ten years; endangered species local
population and habitat destroyed
Huge costs; extreme event with
potential to lead to failure of most
objectives or collapse
(e.g. > 25% of budget)
Major
Single fatality and/or life threatening injury
or exposure with permanent consequences
(paralysis, brain damage etc.)
Major release; multiple fatality of a species or damage
to a habitat; potential recovery between one and ten
years; not limited to areas within and near the operation
site; high proportion of an endangered species lost and
left not viable
Major costs; major event that can be
endured with prioritised and focused
management
(e.g. > 10% of budget)
Moderate
Multiple serious injuries or exposures
causing hospitalisation with moderate
permanent effects
Moderate pollution; Multiple fatality of species or
damage to a habitat; expected recovery less than one
year; limited to areas within and near the operation site;
loss of one member of an endangered species
High costs; significant event that can
be managed under special
circumstances
(e.g. > 5% of budget)
Minor
Multiple medical treatment cases and /or
minor injuries and / or first aid treatments
from which recovery is likely
Minor pollution; detectable effects on plants, animals or
communities (e.g. emissions, noise, odour, fall-out,
discolouration of water); recovery time less than one
week
Some financial impact; can be
absorbed, but management effort
required to minimise impacts
(e.g. ~ 2.5% of budget)
Insignificant
No medical treatment required
Low pollution; no detectable effects to animals or
communities on - and off-site; event requiring only
routine procedures without reporting
Low financial impact, can be easily
absorbed through normal activity
(e.g. ~ 1% of budget)
RiskScale.3: Severity of Events II
This scale defines the severity of events related to risks. Please use it in order to assess the levels of project related risks during the risk analysis. For
example let an expert estimate the likelihood of an event or apply it for your own assessment of risks based on suitable information that you have
collected.
CONSEQUENCES
How severely could the event hurt someone or cause damage?
Reputation
Business Process & Systems
Catastrophic
Serious (international) public / media outcry; damaging
NGO campaign; licence to operate threatened;
reputation impacted with major stakeholders
Future operations at site seriously affected; urgent corrective or
remedial action required, major loss of production / services; key
customers / users lost to alternative supply;
Major
Intense adverse national public / media / NGO
attention; licence to operate suspended; unable to
gain approval; reputation impacted with significant
number of key stakeholders
Major damage to facility requiring significant corrective or preventive
action; serious loss of production / services; some customers / users
lost to alternative supply;
Moderate
Elevated concern by local community / media and local
NGOs; significant difficulties in gaining approval;
reputation impacted with some stakeholders
Moderate damage to equipment and / or facility; significant loss of or
impact on production / services; some customers / users seek
alternative supply for short term;
Minor
Minor, ongoing local public / media attention and
complaints; significant hardship from regulator;
reputation is impacted with a small number of people
Minor or superficial damage to equipment and / or facility; minor loss
of or impact on production / services; minor delivery delays;
Insignificant
Public concern restricted to local complaints; ongoing
scrutiny / attention from regulator; individual concern;
no discernable impact on reputation;
Minor errors in systems or processes easily addressed or rectified
by immediate corrective actions; minor delay without impact on
overall schedule; no loss of production or impact on services; no
damage to equipment;
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