NOAA's Risk Assessment Code

Risk Assessment. Each identified/validated hazard that cannot be corrected immediately shall be assigned a Risk Assessment Code (RAC) by the ECS office. The RAC represents the degree of risk associated with the deficiency and combines the elements of hazard severity and mishap probability.

The RAC is derived as follows:

1. Hazard Severity. The hazard severity is an assessment of the worst potential consequence, defined by degree of injury, occupational illness or property damage which is likely to occur as a result of a deficiency. Hazard severity categories shall be assigned a Roman numeral according to the following criteria:
    
   1. Category I - Catastrophic: The hazard may cause death, or property loss greaterthan $1,000,000.
       
   2. Category II - Critical: May cause severe injury, severe occupational illness, or property loss greater $100,000.
       
   3. Category III - Marginal: May cause minor injury, minor occupational illness, or property loss greater then $10,000.
       
   4. Category IV - Negligible: Probably would not affect personnel safety or health, but is, nevertheless, in violation of a standard, or property loss less then $10,000.
       
2. Mishap Probability. The mishap probability is the probability that a hazard will result in a mishap, based on an assessment of such factors as location, exposure in terms of cycles or hours of operation, and affected population. Mishap probability shall be assigned an Arabic letter according to the following criteria:
    
   1. Subcategory A - Likely to occur immediately or within a short period of time.
       
   2. Subcategory B - Probably will occur in time.
       
   3. Subcategory C - May occur in time.
       
   4. Subcategory D - Unlikely to occur.
       
3. Risk Assessment Code. The RAC is an expression of risk which combines the elements of hazard severity and mishap probability. Using the matrix shown below, the RAC is expressed as a single Arabic number that can be used to help determine hazard abatement priorities.

Risk Assessment Code

1. Imminent Danger

2. Serious

3. Moderate

4. Minor