1. Operational Risk Management (ORM).
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
Decisions
721 Air Mobility Operations Group

2. ORM PUBLICATIONS AFPD 90-9, Operational Risk Management.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
AFPD 90-9, Operational Risk Management
AFI , Operational Risk Management
AFPAM , Operational Risk Management Guidelines and Tools
4. Make
Control
decisions

3. WHAT IS ORM? .
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
ORM is a logic-based common-sense approach to making calculated decisions on human and material factors before, during, and after missions, activities, and operations both on- and off-duty.
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

4. WHAT IS ORM? Using common sense and not being stupid!.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions
Using common sense and not being stupid!
Problem -- Common sense isn’t always common and to some people it doesn’t always make sense.

5. OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
Why do I need it?
It could save your life
Who should use it?
Everyone
When do I use it?
All of the time--on-and-off duty
How do I use it?
Read on
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

6. TYPES OF ORM Time- Critical (done in your head) Deliberate Strategic.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
Time- Critical (done in your head)
Takes only a minute or so to do
You do this each day (hopefully)
Deliberate
This may take a few hours or it could take weeks
Strategic
Very long term (could take months or years)
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

7. Example of Time-Critical ORM.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
You just finished working a 12-hour shift and your buddy says, “Why don’t we drive to Dallas?”
What are the risks?
How serious are the risks?
Analyze the situation
Make your decisions and implement risk controls
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

8. Example of Time-Critical ORM.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
Risks
Falling asleep while driving
Running off the road
Colliding with an on-coming vehicle
How serious?
Very, you could kill someone - maybe you
Analyze the situation...
Sure, I’ll go to Dallas---but first I need some sleep
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

9. Fundamental Goals of ORM.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
Enhance mission effectiveness
Integrate ORM into mission processes
Train all AF personnel to manage risks in all their on-and off-duty activities
Identify opportunities to increase Air Force combat effectiveness
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

10. ORM PRINCIPLES Accept no unnecessary risks.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
Accept no unnecessary risks
Make risk decisions at the appropriate level
Accept risks when benefits outweigh costs
Integrate ORM into AF doctrine and planning at all levels
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

11. Accept No Unnecessary Risk.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
Risk is the probability and severity of failure or loss resulting from exposure to various threats of harm
Three reasons for unnecessary risk:
Not aware of the risk
An incorrect assessment of cost versus benefit
Interpreting “bold risk taking” as gambling
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

12. Make Risk Decisions at the Appropriate Level.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
Who will answer in the event of an accident?
Who is the senior person at the scene of the task?
Who knows the full benefits and cost of a risk?
What level makes the most operational sense?
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

13. Accept Risks When Benefits Outweigh the Costs.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
The three key questions are:
What is the potential cost of a risk versus the benefit it may produce?
What is the cost of taking a risk versus the cost of not taking a risk?
Do the total benefits outweigh the total costs?
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
4. Make
Control
decisions

14. Integrate ORM Into AF Doctrine and Planning At all Levels.
1. Identify
the Threats of Harm
6. Supervise
and Review
2. Assess
the Risk
5. Implement
Risk Controls
3. Analyze
Risk Control
Measures
Risks are more easily assessed and managed in the planning stages of a task
Early integration provides the decision maker the greatest opportunity to apply ORM principles
Use the Air Force 6-Step Process
4. Make
Control
decisions

15. Step 1 - Hazard ID
Threats of Harm – Any real or potential condition that can cause mission degradation, injury, illness, or death to personnel or property damage to or loss of equipment or property

16. Step 2 - Risk Assessment Assessment Pitfalls:
Use the Risk Assessment Matrix to assign a “Value” to threats of harm (AFPAM )
Assessment Pitfalls:
Over Optimism - “It can’t happen to us. We’re already doing it.”
Inaccuracy - Misunderstood data
Alarmism - “The sky’s falling!”
Prejudice - Hidden agenda vs facts

17. Step 3 - Analyze Risk Control Measures
There are three actions involved in this step:
Identify Control Options
Determine Control Effects
Prioritize Risk Controls

18. Action 1 - Identify Control Measures
Reject - Risk Outweighs the Benefit
Avoid - Do it a Different Way
Delay - Problem May Go Away
Transfer - Contract Out the Task
Reduce - Incorporate Safety Devices

19. Action 2 - Determine Control Effects
What is the impact on the probability and severity of the threat of harm?
What will the risk control cost?
How will various risk control options work together?

20. Action 3 - Prioritize Risk Controls
Get operator input
The best controls minimize the threats of harm to an acceptable level, while allowing completion of the mission.

21. Step 4 - Make Control Decisions
Select the best risk control
Choose the right time to implement the control
Decide on the appropriate level of implementation.

22. Step 5 - Implement Risk Controls
Make implementation clear
Involve all personnel and coordinate as needed
Establish accountability
Who will be responsible
Provide support
Give feedback on results

23. Why Implementation Sometimes Fails
Operators dislike it
Leaders dislike it
It’s too costly
It’s misunderstood
Wrong control for the problem

24. Step 6 - Supervise & Review
Supervise - Assure controls are effective and detect needed changes
Review - Was the benefit worth the cost
Feedback - Cross talk and supply feedback up and down the chain of command

25. Final Thoughts
All AF instructions/directives incorporate ORM into processes and need continued emphasis
Some level of risk management must be used for all tasks and operations
ORM is simply applying common sense on and off-duty

26. ORM Information For additional information
Go to the Air Force Safety Center website at