A risk assessment today, regardless of the particular technique used, often has a dual focus — safety, of course, but also cost effectiveness. Financially astute managers want to ensure the risk assessment process produces the "best" results in as short a time as possible with as small an impact on the project schedule as practicable.
Unfortunately, seemingly minor issues such as poor lighting and frequent disruptions can derail the risk assessment process. Not having the right mix of people on the team can undermine efforts. Many other issues also can compromise the effectiveness and efficiency of an assessment.
So, let's look at some elements of a well-planned strategy.