ALARP
ALARP means reducing risk as low as reasonably practicable. It requires considering further risk-reduction measures and the sacrifice needed to implement them, rather than assuming risk must be zero or accepting it whenever prevention costs exceed expected losses. In UK safety applications, the assessment is weighted towards protection: rejecting further measures requires a gross disproportion between sacrifice and risk reduction. Apply the relevant context and requirements; a simple commercial cost-benefit calculation does not by itself establish that a safety risk is adequately controlled.
Worked example
A factory identifies a practicable guard that reduces a serious injury risk at modest cost. It cannot reject the guard merely because a narrowly estimated financial saving is slightly below its cost; the safety context and the reasonably practicable test must be considered.
Common mistake
Interpreting reasonably practicable as the cheapest option or treating an equal-cost/equal-benefit threshold as sufficient for a safety ALARP judgement.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | SBL | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |