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=Stages of a risk assessment process=
=Stages of a risk assessment process=
Although the general process adopted during risk assessment is not affected by the intended application, a number of different risk assessment strategies have been developed. Of interest to veterinary epidemiologists are the '''OIE''' framework and the '''Codex Alimentarius Commission''' framework. The OIE approach is intended to estimate the risk of events (with associated consequences) occurring, and therefore is the framework used when investigating the movement of pathogens through animal trade. The CAC framework is based upon a model devised by the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council ('''NAS-NRC''') in order to investigate the levels of chemicals of interest, and therefore devise maximum acceptable limits of these. As such, it is used in order to investigate the ''levels'' of pathogens and other contaminants in food.<br>
As the OIE framework is most commonly used by veterinary epidemiologists investigating diseases of animals, this framework will be described in more detail here. The framework consists of three consecutive steps, all linked through '''risk communication''' in order to create an iterative, repeating process. These steps are '''hazard identification''', '''risk assessment''' and '''risk management''', and the first two of these will be covered in more detail below.
===Hazard identification===
===Hazard identification===
Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. For example, if a risk assessment was conducted in order to investigate the risk of Examples of hazards are 'the movement of at least one animal infected with pathogen x into a country over the course of one year', 'a level of contamination of meat of more than CFUs of Salmonella per cm2'
Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. For example, if a risk assessment was conducted in order to investigate the risk of Examples of hazards are 'the movement of at least one animal infected with pathogen x into a country over the course of one year', 'a level of contamination of meat of more than CFUs of Salmonella per cm2'