Residual Risk

In construction safety, the term "residual risk" refers to the level of risk that remains after all control measures have been implemented.

Despite your best efforts to eliminate or mitigate hazards through the Hierarchy of Controls, some level of risk may persist. These remaining risks are what we call residual risks.

Residual risks are especially important to monitor because they can often be overlooked or underestimated. For instance, you may have installed guardrails to prevent falls from heights, but what if a worker leans too far over the rail? Or you might have provided personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and masks, but what if they are not used correctly 100% of the time?