risikonivået

Risikonivået refers to the estimated level of risk associated with a specific task, process, or system. It is a central concept in risk assessment and risk management, used to prioritize actions and allocate resources for mitigation. The risk level is typically derived from combining two factors: the likelihood that harm or loss will occur, and the severity of the potential consequences. Depending on the context, organizations may use qualitative scales (for example low, medium, high, very high) or quantitative scales (numeric scores such as 1–5 or 1–10) and risk matrices to represent the result.

In practice, risk assessment follows a structured workflow: hazard identification, risk estimation, evaluation against acceptance criteria, treatment (mitigation) actions, and ongoing monitoring. Risikonivået helps determine which risks require the most immediate or stringent controls.

Applications span many sectors, including workplace safety, health, the environment, finance, IT security, and project management. For example, a chemical hazard with a high likelihood and severe consequences will typically be assigned a high risk level, prompting robust controls. After mitigation, residual risk may still be present, and ongoing review is required.

Limitations include reliance on data quality and assumptions, subjectivity in judgments, and the fact that risk levels reflect current controls and conditions that can change. Risikonivået functions as a communication and decision-making tool, informing risk appetite, tolerances, and prioritization, rather than serving as a precise forecast.