Risk Assessment

Students Name:

Andrew Redon, 814004989

Date:

16.12.2015

HAZARD

SEVERITY

RISK

List anything that

might cause
damage to the
structure or
individuals
nearby

How severe would the damage be (1 =

slight, 5 = catastrophic)

How likely is it to happen? (1 =

unlikely, 5 = very likely)

1. Debris and
Sediment
Blocking Culvert

4
With the culvert being blocked with
deposits of debris, driftwood and some
organic growth, the resulting ponding
may lead to scour of the stream banks
and embankment and could possibly
lead to changes in channel alignment.

5
This type of hazard could be due
to a poorly designed culvert in
which case the likelihood of it
happening again would be high.
On the other hand, it could be
due to poor maintenance and the
untimely removal of the built up
debris and sediment.

2.. Overtopping
of the Water onto
the roadway

STRUCTURE

Photo A

RISK
LEVEL
Multiply
the
Severity
score by
the Risk
score
20

16
4

PREVENTION
How can things be changed so that this
hazard is less severe, or less likely to
happen?

1. A better maintenance schedule would

be most suitable to avoid the build up
debris occurring at the culvert.
2. Possibly utilizing an alternative culvert
design might be beneficial in reducing
the quantity of impounded water. This
alternative design could introduced
another culvert alongside the existing
culvert, thereby creating a double cell
culvert.
3. Again, a proper maintenance regime

3. Debris Along
the Embankment
of the Culvert

Due to the build of debris at the inlet to

the culvert, given the right weather
conditions, the level of the impounded
water could rise sufficiently high to go
onto the roadway. As a result motorists
and surrounding structures would be at
risk of danger and destruction.

2
The presence of debris along the
embankment of the culvert can possibly
lead to the continue build up of
impounded water and as a result further
perpetuate the damaging effects of the
water

Students Name:

Andrew Redon, 814004989

Date:

16.12.2015

4
This overtopping even can be
considered to be very likely to
occur due to the length of time
taken to pump the impounded
water out of the area. As
mentioned previously, given
adequate rainfall, this impounded
water could rise very quickly and
as a result flow over onto the
roadway.

would be adequate enough to alleviate

any potentials risks this hazard may
result in.

4
Due to the proximity of the
debris to the inlet of the culvert,
the chances of it falling and
further occluding the opening is
very likely to occur
STRUCTURE

Photo B

HAZARD

SEVERITY

RISK

List anything that

might cause
damage to the
structure or
individuals nearby

How severe would the damage be (1 =

slight, 5 = catastrophic)

How likely is it to happen? (1 =

unlikely, 5 = very likely)

1. Debris and
Sediment Blocking
Culvert

4
With the culvert being blocked with
deposits of debris, driftwood and some
organic growth, the resulting ponding
may lead to scour of the stream banks
and embankment and could possibly
lead to changes in channel alignment.

5
This type of hazard could be due
to a poorly designed culvert in
which case the likelihood of it
happening again would be high.
On the other hand, it could be
due to poor maintenance and the
untimely removal of the built up
debris and sediment.

RISK
LEVEL
Multiply
the
Severity
score by
the Risk
score
20

12

2. Overtopping of
the Culvert
3
Given the accumulation of enough
water during particularly heavy
rainfall, it can be seen that damage to
surrounding structures would be likely.
3. Development of
Diseases
3.

4
Because the officials managing
the project has decided to avoid
clearing the culvert until the
level of impounded water has
reduced, in the event of
unusually heavy rainfall, the
flooding of the culverts banks
would be very likely.

PREVENTION
How can things be changed so that this
hazard is less severe, or less likely to
happen?

1. A better maintenance schedule would

be most suitable to avoid the build up
debris occurring at the culvert. A possible
redesign of the culvert may be necessary
due to the likelihood of damage
occurring to infrastructure downstream if
the debris was immediately cleared. This
redesign should take into consideration
the uncontrolled flow which threatens the
residents downstream and provide
facilities to better control the flow at the
outlet such as energy dissipating devices.
2. The redesign can also take into
consideration the alteration of the cage
used at the inlet of the culvert. Due to the
build up of debris in front of the cage, it
can be deemed that the cage is partially
responsible for the poor performance of
the culvert. Possibly employing other
means of inlet and channel protection

Due to the stagnant nature of the water

presented in the photo, there can be the
development of water-borne diseases
within the impounded water.

Students Name:

Andrew Redon, 814004989

Date:

16.12.2015

such as a headwall or
3
Because the water is being
pumped to a nearby ditch then
the likelihood for the
development of a large number
of vectors is reduced. However
culvert is still unable to handle
the flow, there will be still be a
relatively high likelihood for the
development of disease.
STRUCTURE

HAZARD

SEVERITY

RISK

List anything that

might cause
damage to the
structure or
individuals nearby

How severe would the damage be (1 =

slight, 5 = catastrophic)

How likely is it to happen? (1 =

unlikely, 5 = very likely)

1. Overtopping of
the Water onto the
Road

4
Due the severity of the overtopping
indicated in Photo C, any passing
vehicles, such as the one in the photo,

4
With the absence of any rainfall
present in the photo, and the
ongoing nature of heavy flow

Photo C

RISK
LEVEL
Multiply
the
Severity
score by
the Risk
score
16

PREVENTION
How can things be changed so that this
hazard is less severe, or less likely to
happen?

1. By possibly redesigning the culvert it

may be possible to mitigate the
overtopping taking place. Two methods
can be utilized in the redesign of this

2. Restricted
Emergency
Services

3. Flooding of
Downstream Areas

can easily be swept into the channel.

Additionally, the heavy nature of the
flow can also lead to destabilisation of
the roadway, disturbance of the
channel alignment and even lead to
structural collapse.
4
Because this is the main road between
two villages, due to the blockage
caused by the water overflowing onto
the roadway, essential emergencies
services such as firefighting vehicles
or ambulances will be prevented from
getting to those in need and also taking
those in need to seek proper care.
Additionally, due to the absence of any
mitigating factors, the duration of such
a restriction will further impact of the
severity of this risk.
4.
Due to the visible slope in the picture,
any areas downstream face the
possibility of flooding and the
damaging effects it has on
infrastructure and human life.

the likelihood of these event

happening is quite high

16
4
Because there are no
mechanisms in place to alleviate
the flooding occurring over the
roadway, the likelihood of
emergency services being
restricted is very high.

4
Again, due to absence of any
mitigating mechanisms, the
likelihood of the flood waters
reaching nearby infrastructure
and human life would be very
high.

16

culvert. The first being the removal and

replacement of the existing culvert with
one that is better suited the existing flow
parameters of the channel, that is taking
into account the peak flow rate of the
area along with the headwater and
tailwater elevation. On the other hand, an
additional culvert can be installed
adjacent to the existing culvert to
properly manage the flow. The choice
between the methods should be made
based on the environmental and financial
restrictions present.
2. This risk can be prevented by adding
control mechanisms such as diversion
channels to direct some of the peak flow
away from the culvert. In so doing, the
flow which reaches the channel may be
of a more suitable level for its design.
3. Utilizing flood barriers to prevent the
flow from spreading to unaffected areas
may be useful in such a situation