In risk management, what is the effect of implementing appropriate controls after hazard identification?

• A. They reduce both the likelihood and consequences of hazards.
• B. They primarily increase speed.
• C. They eliminate the need for further monitoring.
• D. They replace the need for training.

Answer: (A)

Implementing appropriate controls after hazard identification reduces both the likelihood of the hazard causing harm and the severity of its consequences. The goal of controls is to break the path from hazard to injury by removing the hazard, cutting exposure, or mitigating impact. For example, engineering controls can redesign processes to prevent exposure, administrative controls can change procedures or add checklists to reduce human error, and PPE provides a final layer of protection if something goes wrong. Even with controls in place, ongoing monitoring and reassessment are necessary to ensure they remain effective as conditions change, and training continues to be important but does not replace the need for controls.