How do you keep your risk assessment up-to-date?

1 Review your risk assessment periodically

You should review your risk assessment at least once a year, or more frequently if there are significant changes in the project scope, design, location, regulations, or stakeholder expectations. A periodic review helps you to check if your risk assessment is still valid, accurate, and comprehensive. You can use a checklist or a template to guide your review process and ensure that you cover all the relevant aspects of your risk assessment, such as the sources, pathways, receptors, consequences, and controls of the risks.

2 Update your risk assessment with new data and information

One of the main reasons to update your risk assessment is to incorporate new data and information that may affect your risk analysis and management. For example, you may need to update your risk assessment if you discover new environmental features, conditions, or sensitivities in the project area, or if you obtain new monitoring, testing, or modeling results that indicate different levels or types of risks. You should also update your risk assessment if you find new or emerging risks that were not considered before, such as climate change, pandemics, or cyberattacks.

3 Update your risk assessment with feedback and input from stakeholders

Another reason to update your risk assessment is to respond to feedback and input from stakeholders, such as clients, regulators, communities, or NGOs. Stakeholders may have different perspectives, expectations, or concerns about the risks and impacts of your project or activity, and you should take them into account in your risk assessment. You can update your risk assessment with feedback and input from stakeholders by conducting consultations, surveys, interviews, or workshops, or by using online platforms or tools to facilitate communication and collaboration.

4 Document and communicate your risk assessment updates

Whenever you update your risk assessment, you should document and communicate the changes and the reasons behind them. You should keep a log or a record of the updates and the dates when they were made, and highlight the key differences or implications of the updates. You should also communicate your risk assessment updates to the relevant stakeholders, such as your clients, team members, regulators, or contractors, and explain how the updates affect the risk management plan, the project objectives, or the stakeholder expectations.

5 Use software or tools to streamline your risk assessment updates

Updating your risk assessment can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially if you have multiple projects or activities to manage. You can use software or tools to streamline your risk assessment updates and make them more efficient and consistent. For example, you can use software or tools that allow you to store, organize, and access your risk assessment data and information in a centralized and secure location, or that enable you to automate, visualize, or report your risk assessment updates. You can also use software or tools that integrate with other systems or platforms that you use for your environmental consulting work, such as GIS, CAD, or CRM.

Keeping your risk assessment up-to-date is essential for your environmental consulting work, as it helps you to identify and manage the risks and impacts of your project or activity in a dynamic and changing context. By following these tips, you can ensure that your risk assessment is always relevant, accurate, and comprehensive for your environmental consulting work.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?