Adverse health and welfare outcomes Risk

3 MANAGING ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE RISKS

3.1 Introduction

Risk management is a defined process, based on the identification, assessment, management and communication of risks Standards Australia, 1999; Toma et al., 1999. It is widely used as a means to support decision-making, and is now considered central to good management practice in a wide range of disciples Hardaker et al., 1997. SUMMARY: Risk management is central to good management practice. A significant number of risk management resources are publicly-available, having been issued by various government bodies and private associations throughout the world. The intention of most of these documents is to provide guidance to organisations or industries on the approach to risk management. The documents represent good international practice, and should be considered when further developing risk management methodologies for a particular organisation or industry. SUMMARY: A significant number of risk management resources are publicly- available, providing a basis for good international practice.

3.2 Definitions

3.2.1 Adverse health and welfare outcomes

During live export, a range of outcomes may occur that adversely affect the ability of different sectors of the trade to meet agreed animal health and welfare standards. The adverse health and welfare outcomes, which generally cannot be predicted with certainty, include: • Injury physical trauma during transport; • Cold stress and feedlot-related salmonellosis during feedlotting; and • Heat stress and the PSI complex during the sea voyage.

3.2.2 Risk

Risk is defined in terms of probability and consequence. Therefore, the risk of an adverse outcome can be estimated after considering both its probability the likelihood that it will occur and its 40 consequence the impact of this outcome once it does occur. An overall assessment of risk is generally obtained using a risk matrix which considers both probability and outcome, and can be considered either acceptable or not. Unacceptable risk requires some form of intervention or risk management.

3.2.3 Risk factors