Initiation of Risk Assessments

by Sarah Koehler | May 2, 2022 | Compliance, Consulting Group, FDA, Quality, Risk Management, Standardization, Standards

Millennial black businesswoman addressing colleagues at a corporate business meeting, close up

Risk Assessments are a powerful tool used to elevate regulatory decisions and product changes. Risk assessments are analyzed iteratively to refine the assessment questions, data, and assumptions. Information is exchanged between the risk assessment team and stakeholders within the industry; communication, participation, and collaboration are encouraged in the risk assessment process. A risk assessment provides information on the characteristics of the risk attributed to a hazard.

Device needs, resources, and public health concerns are major considerations in the determination of a risk assessment. The best method for initiation of a risk analysis process includes:

Establishing a procedure
Develop criteria to evaluate the quality of data
Develop guidelines to evaluate
Formalize a review process
Increase capacity to conduct risk assessments¹

Risk management and risk communications are the other key factors in the risk assessment process. Risk management activities are to control the hazards involved in the process. Risk communication incorporates the exchange of information and opinions about the risks. Most risk assessments are iterative, transparent, team-oriented, and collaborative and should be applied to all risk analysis steps¹. During the risk assessment process research is usually conducted to discover missing information on the risk mitigation.

The risk management team assembles the appropriate data to draft the technical and interpretive risk assessment summary documents. Depending on the intensity of the risk assessment, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff or other agencies may review summary documents, as necessary. If your company needs assistance with the initiation of a risk assessment EMMA International can assist. Contact us by phone at 248-987-4497 or by email at info@emmainternational.com.

_______________________

¹FDA (March 2018). Initiation and conduct all major risk assessments within risk analysis framework Retrieved on APR 25, 2022 from https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-risk-safety-assessments/initiation-and-conduct-all-major-risk-assessments-within-risk-analysis-framework

Sarah Koehler

Sarah is a Quality Engineer at EMMA International. She has experience in quality assurance, change management, laboratory controls, and process/equipment validation within the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Sarah has earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Western Michigan University.