Design trumps Risk Assessment - Our VCAT Hearing Success (as Expert Witnesses)

04/14/24 • 15 min

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss their recent success (as Expert Witnesses) at VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and how design trumps risk assessment.
They discuss their case involving an application for a building permit in the outer safety zone of a major hazard facility. WorkCover advised against building two new dwellings due to increased population and societal risk. However, Richard and Gaye, as expert witnesses, argued that proper safety and design measures, such as laminated windows and steel roofs, could mitigate the risks.

The VCAT decision supports R2A’s position, and emphasises the importance of, working out the credible worst-case scenarios and then designing for it.

You can listen further about this VCAT hearing in Season 2 episodes 1 & 2 of our podcast.

If you’d like to learn more about Richard & Gaye, visit www.r2a.com.au.

Please submit any feedback or topic ideas to [email protected].

The VCAT decision supports R2A’s position, and emphasises the importance of, working out the credible worst-case scenarios and then designing for it.

You can listen further about this VCAT hearing in Season 2 episodes 1 & 2 of our podcast.

If you’d like to learn more about Richard & Gaye, visit www.r2a.com.au.

Please submit any feedback or topic ideas to [email protected].

Previous Episode

Design Analysis not Risk Analysis

In this episode of the podcast "Risk! Engineers Talk Governance," due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss the topic of design analysis versus risk analysis. They explore the difference between ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) and SFAIRP (so far as reasonably practicable) and how the interpretation of these concepts has caused confusion and problems in various industries.

They also discuss the importance of safety in design and the need for a retrospective design review to ensure that all reasonable practical precautions are in place. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in consequence modelling and design review, as well as the need for quality assurance and independent checks in governance processes.

The episode concludes with a reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to risk analysis and that different tools and techniques can provide different insights into due diligence issues.

If you’d like to learn more about Richard & Gaye, visit www.r2a.com.au.

Please submit any feedback or topic ideas to [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

Next Episode

R2A's Due Diligence Process - Why it works

In this episode of Risk! Engineers Talk Governance, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss R2A's preferred approach to due diligence.

They explain why they start with a top-down approach, usually starting with the military intelligence, threat and vulnerability technique. And how often organisations who have started with a bottom-up process have been floundering for some time, come to R2A to cut through the detail.

Richard and Gaye also discuss:

· importance of selecting the right tools and techniques for the job,

· need for multiple perspectives and approaches to ensure a comprehensive analysis,

· importance of bringing key stakeholders together and the challenges of working in silos,

· need for preparation and adaptability in the due diligence process.

Please note the matrix mentions is available in all R2A publications. You can find these at https://www.r2a.com.au/store
If you'd like to learn more about Richard & Gaye's due diligence work at R2A, head to www.r2a.com.au or get in contact at [email protected].

Risk! Engineers Talk Governance - Design trumps Risk Assessment - Our VCAT Hearing Success (as Expert Witnesses)

Transcript

Megan (Producer) (00:01):

Welcome to Risk! Engineers Talk Governance. In this episode, due diligence engineers Richard Robinson and Gaye Francis discuss their recent success at VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and how design trumps risk assessment. We hope you enjoy the