TS EN 31010

TS EN 31010 is a standard that gives guidance on how to select and apply techniques used to support risk assessment within risk management. It is linked to the ISO 31000 family and brings together systematic methods that help organisations understand risk in a more structured way.

The role of risk assessment techniques

Risk assessment is the structured examination of what can happen, how likely it is to happen, and what the consequences may be, together with the options for controlling or treating the risk. Rather than requiring one mandatory method, this standard serves as a guidance document for choosing techniques that fit the situation. That makes it useful across a wide range of risk problems, from straightforward processes to complex systems.

Why the techniques differ

Risk assessment techniques may be qualitative or quantitative, and they vary according to the level of uncertainty, the availability of data, the complexity of the system, and the decision that needs to be made. Some techniques are designed to generate ideas and identify possible failures, while others examine cause-and-effect relationships, barriers, or scenario outcomes in greater detail. For that reason, the purpose, scope, and output of a technique need to match the context in which it will be used.

In general technical terms, a standard of this kind helps organisations choose methods intentionally and consistently rather than by chance. It is especially relevant in quality management, process improvement, organisational management, and technical system analysis, where risk information supports decision-making and prioritisation. This record refers to a withdrawn edition of the standard, so the subject described here reflects the historical scope of that edition.