> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.assuric.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Risk scales and thresholds
> How Assuric rates a hazard's risk from 1 to 5, and what you need to do once residual risk reaches 3.
**Quick summary**
* The default matrix rates hazards 1 to 5 from likelihood and severity, so multiplied spreadsheet scores won't match.
* From a residual rating of 3, you must fill in *Residual Risk Justification* and confirm whether the risk is ALARP.
* Only count controls that are in place. An assessor will spot a residual rating that relies on planned ones.
## Likelihood
Likelihood is how often the harm happens.
| Value | Label | Description |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | **Very low** | Negligible or nearly negligible possibility of occurring |
| 2 | **Low** | Could occur but in the great majority of occasions will not |
| 3 | **Medium** | Possible |
| 4 | **High** | Not certain but very possible; reasonably expected to occur in the majority of cases |
| 5 | **Very High** | Certain or almost certain; highly likely to occur |
## Severity
Severity is the possible consequences of the harm.
| Severity | Single patient | Multiple patients |
| - | - | - |
| **1 Minor** | Minor injury from which recovery is expected in the short term; minor psychological upset; inconvenience; any negligible consequence | Not applicable |
| **2 Significant** | Minor injury or injuries from which recovery is expected in the short term; significant psychological trauma | Minor injury from which recovery is expected in the short term; minor psychological upset; inconvenience |
| **3 Considerable** | Severe injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is expected in the short term; severe psychological trauma | Minor injury or injuries from which recovery is not expected in the short term; significant psychological trauma |
| **4 Major** | Death; permanent life-changing incapacity, and any condition for which that is the prognosis; severe injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is not expected in the short term | Severe injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is expected in the short term; severe psychological trauma |
| **5 Catastrophic** | Not applicable | Death; permanent life-changing incapacity, and any condition for which that is the prognosis; severe injury or severe incapacity from which recovery is not expected in the short term |
## How the rating is produced
Every workspace starts with this DCB0129 matrix. Where the likelihood's column meets the severity's row is your *Overall Rating*.
| Severity ↓ / Likelihood → | 1 Very low | 2 Low | 3 Medium | 4 High | 5 Very High |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| **5 Catastrophic** | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| **4 Major** | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| **3 Considerable** | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| **2 Significant** | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| **1 Minor** | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
A spreadsheet that multiplies likelihood by severity scores 1 to 25, which doesn't map onto the matrix: likelihood 5 with severity 1 multiplies to 5, but the matrix gives 3.
**If your organisation multiplies likelihood by severity**
Our team sets this up for you. Hazards then show a score from 1 to 25 in the same 5 bands (1 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 12, 13 to 16 and 17 to 25). The banner and required justification start at band 3, a score of 7, and the banner shows the score, such as "Undesirable level of risk: 9".
With an organisation-specific scale, your bands and labels may differ from this page.
## What each rating means
| Rating | Band | What it means |
| - | - | - |
| **1** | *Acceptable* | No further action required |
| **2** | *Acceptable* | Acceptable where the cost of further reduction outweighs the benefit, or further reduction is impractical |
| **3** | *Undesirable* | Acceptable only when further risk reduction is impractical |
| **4 or 5** | *Unacceptable* | Eliminate the hazard or add controls |
On a risk stage, the info icon beside *Overall Rating* shows these definitions. A grey ? means no rating yet.
## What happens at 3 and above
* **Initial Risk:** a line under *Overall Rating* always names the band, such as "Your initial risk rating is 2 which is acceptable. Adding further controls is optional."
* **Residual Risk:** from a rating of 3, a banner names the band and what you need to do:
* at 3, "Undesirable level of risk" asks you to attempt to eliminate the hazard or add controls;
* at 4 or 5, "Unacceptable level of risk" says eliminating the hazard or adding controls is mandatory.
From a residual rating of 3, *Residual Risk Justification* is required. **Save & Exit** shows "Please provide a justification for the residual risk rating" until you do.
Its helper text asks whether the risk is ALARP:
> "Residual risk rating is undesirable or unacceptable - confirm if ALARP, and if so provide a risk-benefit justification"
## Score residual risk on the controls you've built
An assessor will spot residual ratings that assume controls you haven't built. Keep *Control Status* accurate, and re-check the rating once a control is built.
## Related articles
Score the initial and residual risk as you add a hazard.
How the hazard log fits together, and how to read its table.
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