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Risk Assessment
For hazard analysis and critical control point building water
management, quantitative risk assessment per se is not required. However
risk characterization is necessary as indicated in column 3 of Table 4.
Although this distinction between risk characterization and risk
assessment may seem at first merely semantic, upon closer examination it
should become clear that it is not a trivial difference. Hazard analysis and
control is a quantitative process with the goal to eliminate, reduce or prevent
hazards from harming people. But, for example, legionellosis risk assessment
is a qualitative process which can at best help identify precautions that when
implemented will reduce the risk of contracting legionellosis. It should be
noted that although progress towards a quantitative risk assessment model
has been made, the consensus opinion at this time is that legionellosis risk
assessment must be considered qualitative.
Risk Characterization
Therefore, qualitative risk characterization must result in a decision by
the Water Management Team regarding the significance of the risk at each
processing step (refer to Table 4, column 4). Risk characterization matrices
can be very helpful. The following is practical approach given as an example
(adapted from Kraegschmidt 2014).
