The structure of risk

A risk is a possibility of harm or loss. This model starts with that possible harm, then connects it to the events, conditions, or changes that could lead to it and what could follow.

Keep the harm or loss at the centre of the account. Describe the affected person or thing within the harm where needed, for example “the restaurant loses its chilled stock”. The purpose and context of the description may already make this clear.

Reading the relationships

The dotted arrows mean “could lead to”. They represent a possible connection, not an inevitable outcome or an established causal claim.

An initiating event or condition may lead to the harm directly or through intermediate events or changes. Further consequences may follow the harm. Add only the steps needed to describe the situation, including branches where several paths are relevant.

Cause and consequence describe how items relate. An intermediate event can be a consequence of what precedes it and a cause of what follows; they are not separate, compulsory types of item.

Drag items to rearrange the diagram. Reset view restores the starting layout and keeps your entries and connections.