What is the purpose of risk assessment during patrols?

• A. To assign blame for incidents after they occur.
• B. To determine who is at fault.
• C. To record only weather conditions.
• D. Identify hazards, assess likelihood and consequences, and implement preventive measures to reduce risk.

Answer: (D)

During patrols, the main goal is to manage safety proactively by spotting hazards, judging how likely they are to cause harm and how serious that harm could be, and putting controls in place to lower the risk. This keeps you and others safe and supports smooth, lawful operations. Because conditions change on the ground, risk assessment is ongoing: you continually look for issues like poor lighting, uneven surfaces, unsecured doors, or weather-related dangers, evaluate the chance and impact of each hazard, and apply measures such as better lighting, barriers, signage, maintenance fixes, or revised patrol routes. The emphasis is on prevention and control, not on assigning blame or determining fault.