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Further Thoughts on the Utility of Risk Matrices

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  • David J. Ball
  • John Watt

Abstract

Risk matrices are commonly encountered devices for rating hazards in numerous areas of risk management. Part of their popularity is predicated on their apparent simplicity and transparency. Recent research, however, has identified serious mathematical defects and inconsistencies. This article further examines the reliability and utility of risk matrices for ranking hazards, specifically in the context of public leisure activities including travel. We find that (1) different risk assessors may assign vastly different ratings to the same hazard, (2) even following lengthy reflection and learning scatter remains high, and (3) the underlying drivers of disparate ratings relate to fundamentally different worldviews, beliefs, and a panoply of psychosocial factors that are seldom explicitly acknowledged. It appears that risk matrices when used in this context may be creating no more than an artificial and even untrustworthy picture of the relative importance of hazards, which may be of little or no benefit to those trying to manage risk effectively and rationally.

Suggested Citation

  • David J. Ball & John Watt, 2013. "Further Thoughts on the Utility of Risk Matrices," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(11), pages 2068-2078, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:33:y:2013:i:11:p:2068-2078
    DOI: 10.1111/risa.12057
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Alan J. Card & James R. Ward & P. John Clarkson, 2014. "Trust‐Level Risk Evaluation and Risk Control Guidance in the NHS East of England," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(8), pages 1469-1481, August.
    4. Xin Ruan & Zhiyi Yin & Dan M. Frangopol, 2015. "Risk Matrix Integrating Risk Attitudes Based on Utility Theory," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(8), pages 1437-1447, August.
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    6. Alex de Lima Teodoro da Penha & Samuel Vinícius Bonato & Joana Baleeiro Passos & Eduardo da Silva Fernandes & Cínthia Kulpa & Carla Schwengber ten Caten, 2024. "Navigating the Urgency: An Open Innovation Project of Protective Equipment Development from a Quadruple Helix Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-32, February.
    7. Shabnam Vatanpour & Steve E. Hrudey & Irina Dinu, 2015. "Can Public Health Risk Assessment Using Risk Matrices Be Misleading?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, August.
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    10. Roger C. Jensen & Royce L. Bird & Blake W. Nichols, 2022. "Risk Assessment Matrices for Workplace Hazards: Design for Usability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-23, February.

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