Hazardaanname

Hazardaanname is a term used in risk management and safety engineering to denote an assumption about the presence, characteristics, or consequences of hazards within a system, process, or environment. It functions as a starting point for hazard analysis and risk assessment when complete data are not available. By explicitly stating the hazard assumptions, analysts define the scope of the assessment, identify potential failure modes, and develop mitigation strategies for the identified risks.

Assumptions commonly cover the type of hazards (chemical, mechanical, environmental, biological), their likelihood, potential severity, level of exposure, and the expected effectiveness of controls. They may also specify operational conditions, boundary limits, and external factors such as weather or human factors. Documenting these assumptions is essential for transparency, auditability, and future updates as new information becomes available.

In practice, hazardaanname is subjected to validation and sensitivity analysis. Stakeholders review the assumptions to ensure they reflect real-world conditions and regulatory expectations. If data later contradicts an assumption, the risk assessment may be revised, and control measures adjusted accordingly. Hazard assumptions are not predictions but educated premises that enable structured analysis, enabling safer design, operation, and decision-making within risk management frameworks.

See also: hazard analysis, risk assessment, risk management, ISO 31000, HAZOP, FMEA.