Which option is NOT a component of the risk management process described?

• A. Continue operations without any risk assessment
• B. Identify, analyse & assess risk
• C. Investigate causes of HPIs
• D. Mitigate residual risk

Answer: (A)

The risk management process in mining is a structured cycle: identify hazards, analyze and assess the risk, implement controls to reduce risk, and monitor or review outcomes to ensure remaining risk is acceptable.

Continuing operations without any risk assessment is not part of this process. Skipping hazard identification and risk evaluation means you don’t know what hazards exist or how serious they are, so you can’t choose appropriate controls or know whether residual risk is acceptable. In a proper risk management approach, you assess risk before or during operation and act to reduce it.

Investigating the causes of HPIs fits, because understanding why incidents happened informs what controls are needed and how to prevent recurrence. Mitigating residual risk is also a core step, as you apply controls and then reassess what risk still remains to decide if further action is required.

So, the option that does not belong is continuing operations without any risk assessment.