Detailed Questions

What is a safety management system?

How do I implement an effective SMS?

How does BowTie Pro™ Simplify Risk Management?

What is Combined Control Effectiveness?

What is ALARP?

What is ALARP?

The As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) principle forms part of an overall tolerability of risk management described by HSE. This is commonly represented by a triangle.

The risk increases from the bottom point of the triangle to the top. The upper limit is regarded as unacceptable whatever the benefits. Any activity or practice falling into this region would normally be ruled out unless action could be taken to reduce the risk into one of the regions lower down the triangle. The bottom of the triangle represents what is known as the ‘broadly acceptable region’. Risks falling into this region are regarded as insignificant and adequately controlled. The zone between the unacceptable and broadly acceptable regions (the middle part of the triangle) is known as the tolerable region. Within this region the risks must be controlled to a level that is ALARP.

The Objective of ALARP

The Objective of ALARP is

• To reduce a risk to a level which is as low as reasonably practicable involves balancing reduction in risk against the time, trouble, difficulty and cost of achieving it.
• This level represents the point, objectively assessed, at which the time, trouble, difficulty and cost of further reduction measures become unreasonably disproportionate to the additional risk reduction obtained.

How is ALARP demonstrated

The definition above requires that there is a demonstration of cost vs. benefits analysis. BowTie Pro™ allows controls to be categorised against many measures including cost and benefit

In simple terms this ALARP demonstration should identify both ‘what more could be done (i.e. what additional measures could be put in place) and ‘why these are not necessary ’. This exercise will:-

• require information on which processes are operated remotely, and on the philosophy regarding remote versus non-remote manufacturing.
• require information on what corresponding controls are in place, including the relevant good practice as found in HSE guidance, recognised standards, industry practice, which indicate the minimum compliance standard.
• for the "tolerable if ALARP" region, require a detailed consideration of control measures and a rigorous demonstration that all measures necessary have been taken to reduce the residual risk ALARP. When no further reasonably practicable risk reduction measures can be identified then the residual risks are ALARP.
• for the broadly acceptable region, require a demonstration based on the adoption of relevant good practice, engineering standards, recognised codes and guidance. Obvious and reasonably practicable risk reduction measures should be introduced.

Determining that risk has been reduced ALARP

This process can involve varying degrees of rigour which will depend on the nature of the hazard, the extent of the risk and the control measures to be adopted. The more systematic the approach, the more rigorous and more transparent it is to the regulator and other interested parties. However, duty-holders (and the regulator) should not be overburdened if such rigour is not warranted. The greater the initial level of risk under consideration, the greater the degree of rigour HSE requires of the arguments purporting to show that those risks have been reduced ALARP.