What is the first step in the Five-Step Risk Management process?

• A. Assess the hazards.
• B. Determine mission impact.
• C. Identify the Hazards.
• D. Develop a risk mitigation plan.

Answer: (C)

Identifying hazards is the first step because you must know what could cause harm before you can assess risk or plan controls. This initial step catalogs all potential sources of harm in the operation, setting the scope for the entire risk management process. Once hazards are identified, you evaluate each one for likelihood and severity, determine which risks deserve controls, and then develop and implement those controls while monitoring effectiveness. The other steps—assessing hazards, determining mission impact, and developing or implementing mitigation plans—come after hazards are identified, so they depend on having a complete list of hazards to work from.