ilmanriskit

Ilmanriskit is a Finnish term used in risk discourse to describe the effort to avoid or eliminate risks in the design, development, and operation of systems, products, and processes. It denotes an aspirational goal rather than a formal methodological label.

Etymology: the compound derives from ilman (without) and riskit (risks). In practice, the term is used in Finnish-language safety discussions to emphasize proactive risk avoidance and safe-by-design thinking, rather than to replace established risk management nomenclature.

Applications: in planning and engineering, ilmanriskit guides decisions toward hazard avoidance, rigorous hazard analyses, risk assessments, FMEA, redundancy, protective measures, and safety culture. It commonly appears in corporate safety briefings, project charters, and design reviews as a framing device for risk reduction.

Standards and practice: while the idea aligns with formal frameworks such as ISO 31000 (risk management) and ISO 14971 (medical devices), ilmanriskit is not a formal standard and does not replace the need for documented risk analyses and residual risk evaluation.

Limitations: achieving zero risk is generally infeasible; the concept often serves to encourage strong preventive measures but must be balanced with cost, feasibility, and residual risk considerations.

Context and domains: the term appears across domains including construction, automotive, aerospace, software, and healthcare, where safety-critical decisions must be made.

See also: risk management, safety engineering, hazard analysis, risk assessment, safety-by-design.