Community Fire and Safety - Assignment Example

Running Header: Community Fire and Safety Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: Community Fire and Safety Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Risk management process 3 Integrating risk Management process in the strategic objectives of the organization 3 Risk Analysis 4 Risk identification 4 Risk Description 5 Risk Estimation 5 Risk evaluation 5 Risk Reporting and Communication 6 Risk treatment 7 Roles of Legislation 8 Introduction Risk management is the process though which organizations addresses the risk appertaining to their activities methodically with the aim of being able to achieve sustainable benefits in each of the associated activity and also across the collection of all the activities (Coleman 2011, p. 24). The main focus of risk management is identification and treatment of these risks. The major objective is to add maximum sustainable value to the activities of the organization. Fire risk is one of the major risks that face most of the organization. Management of this kind of risk requires strategic planning to ensure that there is quick response whenever such an incident occurs. This report describes and evaluates the risk management process. It also evaluates the role of legislation not just as a punishment, but also as a preventive measure. Risk management process The risk management process adds value and protects the stakeholders and the organization by supporting the organization in its major objectives (Kocak 2010, p. 5). In general, the risk management process entails the following major steps Risk Analysis Risk Identification Risk Description Risk Estimation Risk evaluation Risk reporting and communication Risk treatment Integrating risk Management process in the strategic objectives of the organization Risk Analysis The first stage in the risk management process is the identification of how exposed the organization is to risks. In this case, the management needs to be aware of the operating environment in terms of culture, political, social and legal situations. This way, it shall be possible to point out on all the possible causes of the risk. Integrating the activities of risk management process in everyday activities is the best methodology to use to ensure that the organization is always set to handle any kind of risk. For instance, in case the company deals with production of flammable goods, fire extinguishers should be placed in strategic positions and the staff working within those environments regularly reminded on how those equipments are used. It shall also be important to periodically remind the staff on how the equipments are operated and how to deal with such a situation whenever it is encountered. Risk identification This involves identification of all the possible causes of risk in the organization. The process of risk identification should be approached in a methodological way so as to ensure that all the activities within the organization that might cause a risky situation are well defined. This will make the members of such organization to be psychologically prepared and take caution while dealing with such situations whenever they arise. It is also important that activities that are associated with the risky situations or process be also defined and categorized. Risk Description The main aim of risk description is to display the identified risks in a way that can be easily understood. In most situations it involves a format that is structured for instance by use of a table. Well designed structures helps in ensuring that the process of identifying, describing and assessing the risk process is done comprehensively. Major elements that need to be included in the risk description table are name of the risk, scope of the risk, stakeholders, quantification of the risk, risk tolerance, risk treatment and control mechanism, potential action for improvement and the strategy and policy development. Risk Estimation Estimation of risk can be qualitative, semi-quantitative or quantitative in terms of the chances of occurring and the possible consequences. In estimating the possible consequences of the risk, most of the data is borrowed from the risk description table. Where the organization has been running for a period of time, the data recorded concerning the history of the risks that have been experienced in the past days would also be used to estimate risk. The major objective of this stage is to be aware of where to allocate more resources for risk management Coleman 2011, p 23). Depending on the type of organization, different measures will be incorporated whose consequence and probability measures would suit their needs. Risk evaluation When the process of analyzing the risk is complete, comparison is made between the estimated risks against the risk criteria that the organization has already established. Risk criteria would include associated benefits and costs, the legal requirements, environmental and economic factors, stakeholders concerns among others. The risk evaluation is therefore used in making the decisions on the significance of risks to the organization and whether each specific organization should be treated or accepted. Risk Reporting and Communication In reporting and communicating of risks in the organization, different levels are involved (Whitelock 2002, p. 345). This is because different levels of information are required by different types of groups in the organization. The top management for example, needs to know the most significant risks that are facing the organization so that it can know the measures to put in place in order to deal effectively with these kinds of crisis. Moreover, it would be interested to know how the risk is going to affect the business and the value of the stakeholder and by how much the business would deviate from the expected ranges of performance. On the other hand, individuals within the environment of the risk would be interested in understanding how they should be accountable for their own individual risks and how they can be able to respond or improve on the response to the risk. The business unit would be interested in knowing the possible impact of the associated risk and the consequences that will result from that risk. In risk communication and reporting therefore, appropriate information should be given to the concerned department. The formal reporting should at least address the following:- The process that is used to identify the risks and how the risk management system addresses these risks. The control method- in particular the responsibilities of the management in managing risks. The primary control systems that are already in place that would help in managing significant of risks. The review and monitoring system that are already in place Risk treatment This process involves selection and implementation of measures that would modify the risks. It includes the major element of risk control and further extends to issues relating to risk financing, risk transfer and risk avoidance. Risk financing refers to mechanisms like insurance programs that would fund the financial consequences of the risks. Risk treatment system should be able to address the following:- Efficient and effective organization operation Compliance with the regulations and the laws Effective internal control This process conforms to the integrated risk management plan for the government. The main aims of the government in managing risk for the fire is to ensure that in ideal situations such incidences do not occur and when they do, and then there is a management system in place to minimize the risks associated to the lowest level as possible (Dhanda 2008 p 25). Roles of Legislation Legislation is a law that has been enacted by the body which is governing. It aims to perform different functions (Dhanda 2008, p. 23). Major roles of legislation are to defend people from doing evil, promoting the common good, resolving disputes over the limited resources and encouraging the people to do the right thing. Legislation defends people from doing evil by instilling fear on the people about the possible consequences of their actions. People who seek to do harm without any good reason are prevented to do so by the law. In this case, whenever one feels like harming others without any valid reason then he or she would face fatal consequences due to the enacted law. Another responsibility of legislation is promoting the common good. Legislation is not just aimed at bring the wrong doers to account for their actions. In a community that consists of people who do not have ill with one another and then the people are allowed to pursue their own self interests then in such a situation there needs to be legislation that needs to guard the individuals of such a community from harming one another. Legislation also helps in solving of the disputes that arises between individuals who have different view. Whenever laws have been enacted, there are kept in a position such that they can be referred to in future. Whenever legislation is made, it is made to be known in a way to every person who is concerned. Thus when disputes arises between two parties over a dispute, then they can refer to the legislation and solve the dispute. Legislation also encourages people to do right (Pearson 1997, p. 23). When a community wants to adopt a certain habitual behavior, then legislation which promotes this behavior is made. Through legislation, the community would find it difficult not to adopt the right decision. Fatal consequences would be associated with failure to adopt the legislation. References Coleman, B 2011, London Safety Plans, London. Dhanda, P 2008, London Safety Plans, Crown Copyright, London. Kocak, H 2010, A risk Management Standard, ALAM, United Kingdom Pearson, S 1997, Importance of Law, Harvard University, viewed 10 Dec 2011, . Whitelock, J 2002, ‘Theories of risk management’, International Journal on Risk Management, Vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 342-347. Read More