Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) Practice Exam

What does the 'Avoid' strategy entail in risk mitigation?

1. Reducing risks by optimizing processes

2. Sharing risks with other parties

3. Eliminating the activity that introduces the risk

4. Accepting the risk and planning for it

The correct answer is: Eliminating the activity that introduces the risk

The 'Avoid' strategy in risk mitigation entails eliminating the activity that introduces the risk. This approach focuses on identifying and removing the source of potential hazards, thereby preventing any possible negative impacts associated with those risks altogether. By avoiding the risky activity, organizations can effectively shield themselves from the uncertainty and consequences that could arise from it. For example, if a particular maintenance procedure is deemed too hazardous due to a high likelihood of equipment failure, an organization employing a risk avoidance strategy might decide to eliminate that specific procedure and replace it with a safer alternative. This proactive measure seeks to ensure that the risk does not materialize, leading to a more stable and secure operational environment. The other strategies, while beneficial in their own right, do not achieve the same outcome as avoidance. Reducing risks by optimizing processes focuses on managing and lowering the risks rather than eliminating them entirely. Sharing risks involves partnering with other parties to spread the burden of potential losses. Accepting the risk and planning for it involves recognizing the existence of the risk and deciding to proceed with it while preparing to deal with any consequences that may arise. However, none of these strategies eliminate the risk entirely, unlike the avoidance approach.