Glossary · Risk assessment and risk reduction
Risk acceptance justification
In machine safety, a risk acceptance justification is the documented rationale for accepting a residual risk, including the acceptance criteria, assumptions, approvals and evidence. It makes the decision to stop reducing risk reviewable.
- Machine safety
- Risk assessment
- Technical documentation
In one sentence
A risk acceptance justification records why a residual risk was accepted, against which criteria, by whom, and on what evidence.
Example
For the residual shearing risk at a press die during setting, the justification cites the required Performance Level, the hold-to-run mode at reduced speed, the verification report and the approval of the safety engineer.
How it applies
- Technical documentation: A good justification states the criteria used, why further measures are not practicable or would not reduce risk meaningfully, the state of the art considered, the assumptions about users and operation, and who approved it.
- Evidence: Link the justification to verification and validation records and to the instructions that communicate the residual risk. It is one link in the evidence chain.
- Change control: Justifications rest on assumptions. When design, use or field data change, review them rather than treating them as permanent.
- Limits: Cost alone is a weak argument where a known measure would reduce a serious risk. Write the justification so that a regulator or court could follow it.
Risk acceptance justification vs. risk evaluation
Risk evaluation is the judgment whether further risk reduction is needed. The risk acceptance justification documents the reasoning and approvals behind a positive judgment.