mitigator

Mitigator is a term used to describe a person, device, or action that reduces the severity, likelihood, or consequences of a hazard or risk. In risk management and safety engineering, mitigators are measures selected to lessen potential harm as part of a risk treatment plan. They can be physical, procedural, technological, or organizational.

Common classes include engineering controls (machine guards, containment systems, fail-safe designs), administrative controls (training, procedures, maintenance schedules), and personal protective equipment. In information security, mitigators are controls that lessen the impact of vulnerabilities or breaches, such as patch management, network segmentation, input validation, logging and monitoring, and incident response planning. In environmental and public policy contexts, mitigators include measures to reduce emissions or adapt to impacts, such as renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency standards, flood defenses, and land-use planning.

Mitigators are chosen based on their effectiveness, feasibility, cost, and potential side effects, and they are evaluated alongside other risk treatment options such as avoidance, transfer, or acceptance within a risk management framework like ISO 31000. They are monitored and re-assessed over time to ensure continued performance as conditions change. The term is descriptive rather than a formal designation, and its exact meaning depends on the domain and context.