What is the primary purpose of an environmental risk assessment?

The primary purpose of an environmental risk assessment is to identify potential environmental hazards. This process involves systematically analyzing various environmental factors to determine the risks that could negatively impact the surrounding ecosystem, human health, and safety. By pinpointing these hazards, organizations can prioritize their efforts, implement risk management strategies, and develop effective control measures to mitigate the identified risks.

While creating a checklist of environmental policies, evaluating employee performance, and defining safety procedures for hazardous materials are important tasks in an organization's broader environmental management strategy, they do not capture the essence of what an environmental risk assessment aims to achieve. The focus of an assessment is specifically on recognizing and evaluating the environmental hazards present, which serves as the foundation for informed decision-making and proactive risk management.