Risk is the concrete threat of harm that lies over us in every moment and second of our lives, but that may or may not materialize at some point.For example, when we go outside we are exposed to an innumerable amount of risky circumstances, such as a flowerpot or a balcony that collapses on our humanity, an assault, etc. Any situation or thing that is plausible to cause us some kind of harm is a risk.
This in terms of the most daily risks that have to do fundamentally with the Physical damage To which human beings are prone, meanwhile, there are other types of risks. On one side is the geological riskThis includes earthquakes, earthquakes, avalanches, tsunamis and any other natural disaster that have abounded a lot in recent years as a result of the increasingly precarious condition of planet earth. With the advancement of technology, and the instruments of meteorology, many of these risks can be today, if not avoided, at least minimized. Such is the case with earthquakes or hurricanes, where although material damage to homes and others is almost inevitable, the protection of human life can be achieved through processes of evacuating inhabitants of the places that would be affected.
And another type of risk, very in vogue and heard in recent times after the financial debacle in the United States caused by the collapse of the real estate market first, followed by the stock market and even caused a domino effect in the rest of the world , is he financial risk. This includes credit, liquidity and market risk. For example, and following the example of the United States, we get tired of hearing from the voices that presumably know the most about this type of scenario is that this degree of financial destabilization was reached due to the very high risks that many powerful decided to take together with the great owners of the economy.
In this sense, one of the most used terms that is related to financial and economic matters is the famous “country risk”. Country risk is the indicator used by stock investors (of securities listed on the Stock Exchange) of how reliable the country is to make investments of this type. For example, if I have a certain amount of money, and instead of buying property or foreign currency, I decide to buy bonds or debt securities of a country, by informing myself about the country risk percentages, I can determine which country is more reliable, that is In other words, with which country do I have the best chance of recovering the money from my investment in the agreed time. A well-known case is the debt bonds issued by Argentina during the 2001 crisis: the BODEN.
Social crises, situations of international conflict, wars or high default rates are factors that undoubtedly increase country risk, while the rates of economic and industrial growth and the rise in gross domestic product (GDP) notably favor the economy. situation of the country vis-à-vis investors.
And finally, the risks, can be classify into: physical hazards, among which we find noise, extreme temperatures, vibrations, lighting, pressures, infrared and violet radiation. Of this type, the most common risks that we can name, are for example the risk of constant and prolonged exposure in the sun, carrying out activities with welders without using a protective mask, or the bodily discomfort experienced when visiting a place many meters away. above sea level, and to which we are not used.
Then there are chemicals like powders, fumes, solvents, and liquids. In general, before all types of chemical compounds we always have information or recommendations, suggestions and warnings that explain us about their correct use and about the consequences, or precisely risks that would affect us if they were handled incorrectly. The biological, allergy, glanders, tetanus among others and the occupational, most common in working life, which can be ergonomic (the jobs of workers that often have to be hung on scaffolding or buildings) and the most famous of all and that without a doubt everyone who is reading this definition will have suffered: stress or as I like to call it the main evil of the 21st century.
In relation to the latter, during the last decade in many countries the need was recognized for all workers, even those who are not legally declared, to enjoy protection against accidents during time and in the workplace. From there, the ART (Occupational Risk Insurers) plans arose that make it easier for the worker to have medical coverage for different work-related accidents that he may suffer.
