What is ‘Risk Proximity’?
Assess when a hazard/event is likely to occur so that we can respond to it appropriately.
E.g. if a hazard is imminent we need to respond to it urgently and the risk controls we implement need to be immediately effective.
As a general principle hazards that are likely to occur in three months or less are more serious than those likely to occur in 12 months or more.
Manipulating risk proximity is a valid means of risk control, for example, taking steps to delay when a hazard is likely to occur (also known as ‘kicking the can down the road’ – a popular risk control in large bureaucracies).
