Which term describes the risk that remains after implementing all planned countermeasures or controls to eliminate, reduce, or control the hazard?

• A. Hazard
• B. Initial Risk
• C. Residual Risk
• D. Risk Assessment

Answer: (C)

Residual risk is the risk that remains after applying all planned countermeasures to eliminate, reduce, or control a hazard. This concept captures the reality that no control can remove risk completely; some probability of harm often persists due to imperfect effectiveness, residual uncertainties, or limitations in monitoring and enforcement. That’s why this term best fits the idea of what’s left after mitigation.

The remaining concepts don’t fit as well. A hazard is the source of potential harm, not the amount of risk left after controls. Initial risk refers to the level of risk before any controls are put in place. Risk assessment is the process used to identify and analyze risk, not the residual level after mitigation.