What is the purpose of risk assessment under the CCO?

• A. To identify hazards, assess exposure, and determine controls and monitoring needs
• B. To choose marketing targets
• C. To maximize production speed regardless of risk
• D. To document internal training records

Answer: (A)

The purpose is to systematically identify hazards, assess exposure, and determine the controls and monitoring needed to keep risk at an acceptable level. This means first spotting what could cause harm with the chemical (its toxicity, flammability, reactivity, etc.), then evaluating how people or the environment could be exposed—who might be exposed, through which routes, and under what conditions. With hazard and exposure understood, you judge the overall risk and decide on appropriate safeguards, such as engineering controls (ventilation, closed systems), administrative controls (safe work procedures, training), and personal protective equipment. You also set monitoring requirements (like air sampling or process checks) and plan for re-evaluation if processes change. This approach aligns with how a Chemical Control Order oversees safe chemical handling, whereas the other options relate to marketing, production tempo, or record-keeping rather than risk management.