Understanding risk management
Risk assessment means thinking about what could go wrong, who
or what could be affected, and how you can prevent or reduce
the consequences. Consider everyone affected by your
production, including crew, contributors and the public,
during preparation, recording and publication.
Likelihood means how likely the harm or loss is to happen in
the circumstances you describe.
Severity / consequence means how serious the resulting harm
or loss could be. This can include physical injury,
psychological harm, safeguarding concerns, or damage to
equipment and other financial losses.
Choose a likelihood rating and a severity / consequence
rating. The calculator multiplies these to produce the risk
score and corresponding risk level.
Severity / consequence guide
1. Negligible
Minimal impact with no lasting harm. For example, brief
discomfort or unease, or negligible damage with no
meaningful repair cost or disruption.
2. Minor
Limited effects of brief duration that are readily
resolved. For example, a small cut or bruise, distress
that passes quickly, or minor equipment damage requiring
a straightforward repair.
3. Moderate
Harm or loss that affects normal activities or requires
meaningful recovery or remedial action. For example, an
injury requiring treatment and time to recover, distress
affecting sleep or study, or equipment damage requiring
repair or replacement and disrupting the shoot.
4. Major
Serious harm or substantial loss with significant or
lasting effects. For example, a serious fracture,
significant psychological harm, disclosure of a
contributor's identity exposing them to sustained
harassment, or equipment loss that prevents the
production from continuing as planned.
5. Severe / catastrophic
Death, an injury that threatens life or causes permanent
disability, profound enduring psychological harm, or
identification exposing someone to violence that
threatens their life. For financial or equipment risks,
consequences would be exceptional, with lasting effects
extending substantially beyond the individual production.
These examples are guides. Select the level that best
describes a reasonably foreseeable consequence in your
situation, and explain your choice. Consider the seriousness
and duration of the effects, rather than relying on the name
of an injury or incident alone.
For equipment or financial risks, describe the likely loss,
estimated cost where known, and effect on the production.
Where a hazard could affect both people and equipment, assess
each consequence and do not average serious harm down.
Before and after controls
First assess the risk before the additional controls you
propose, stating any precautions already assumed to be in
place. Then describe your controls and assess the remaining
risk with those controls implemented.
Controls often reduce likelihood without changing how serious
the consequences could be. Do not automatically lower both
ratings or assume every remaining risk must be "Low".
A low score does not replace tutor approval or any required
safeguarding action. If you are unsure how to assess a risk,
ask your tutor rather than guessing. Review your assessment
when the production plans or circumstances change.
