General Model of the Occupational Health and Safety Management Process and Risk Assessment Tools: A Brief Outline

Occupational risk assessment and management has been an increasingly important concern in recent decades both at the scientific level and from the direct and motivated perspective of all economic organizations that aim to improve their efficiency and optimize their own results. From this perspective, the present chapter summarizes, first of all, the principle elements that characterize the strength of a systematic and structured managerial approach to the risk management process for safety and health at work. Starting from the explanation of the concepts of hazard and risk and their connection with uncertainty and acceptability, using Farmer's curve as a tool, the general model of occupational risk management is presented, the basis of which are the applicable standards of the International Organization for Standardization. A set of risk assessment/analysis tools among the most frequently used worldwide are inventoried and critically comparatively analyzed, highlighting the characteristics from a multi-criteria perspective. The intended purpose is to offer a micro-compendium that will facilitate the reader's evolution in the field of occupational safety and health, considering that risk assessment is the basis for adopting decisions regarding the allocation of resources to minimize risk, within the management process of professional risks.