Warm-up
Risk Assessment & Contingency Plans
Risk Assessment & Contingency Plans
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key vocabulary for risk and planning
- Talk about probability with may, might, could, likely and unlikely
- Describe a risk and its consequences
- Explain a contingency plan
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- What risks are there in your job?
- What do you do when your plan does not work?
- Are you a careful person or a risk-taker?
- What was the biggest risk you took at work?
Say it out loud
Talk about a risk. → There is a risk that the supplier might be late, so we will have a back-up supplier.
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Key vocabulary
Useful phrases
| There is a risk that the supplier might be late. | Існує ризик, що постачальник може запізнитися. |
| It is likely to rain on the day of the event. | Ймовірно, у день заходу піде дощ. |
| It is unlikely that we will lose the client. | Малоймовірно, що ми втратимо клієнта. |
| If the system fails, we will use the back-up. | Якщо система вийде з ладу, ми скористаємося резервною копією. |
| We could lose a lot of money. | Ми можемо втратити багато грошей. |
| What is the impact on the project? | Який вплив це матиме на проєкт? |
| We need a contingency plan. | Нам потрібен резервний план. |
| We should monitor the situation every week. | Нам слід щотижня відстежувати ситуацію. |
Try out the new words
Say one sentence with a new word. → …
Say one phrase from the list about your work. → …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English.
Grammar
Probability and "what if"
| may / might / could | possibility: The supplier might be late. The system may fail. We could lose money. They are followed by the base verb. |
| likely / unlikely | It is likely to rain. It is unlikely that we will lose the client. Patterns: be likely/unlikely to + verb; it is unlikely that + clause. |
| probably / possibly / definitely | adverbs of probability: We will probably finish on time. We will definitely need a back-up. They come after will and before the main verb. |
| First conditional for plans | If the system fails, we will use the back-up. If the supplier is late, we will call another one. If + present simple, will + verb. |
| There is a risk that … | There is a risk that the supplier might be late. After risk that use a clause. Or There is a risk of + noun/-ing: a risk of delay. |
Which sentence is correct?
Complete with the correct word
Rewrite it
Say it with the word in brackets. Several answers are possible.
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Say one possible problem at work. → … might …
Reading
Read: a short risk assessment
Risk assessment — Annual Conference
We are organising a conference for 300 people in July. These are the main risks.
Risk 1: bad weather. The likelihood is medium. The outdoor party might be cancelled. If it rains, we will move the party to the hotel hall.
Risk 2: a speaker may be ill. It is unlikely, but the impact would be high. We have a back-up speaker, and we will confirm every speaker one week before the event.
Risk 3: the internet could fail. It is possible, so we will test the system twice. If the Wi-Fi fails, we will use mobile hotspots.
We will monitor all three risks every week. At the moment, the biggest threat is the weather, but we are well prepared.
True or false?
The conference is for 300 people.
The likelihood of bad weather is low.
They have a back-up speaker.
If it rains, the party will be cancelled.
They will monitor the risks every week.
Answer the questions
How many people will come to the conference?
What will they do if it rains?
What will they do if the Wi-Fi fails?
What is the biggest threat now?
Find the key language
Write the word (or phrase) from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good text?
Your own opinion
- Which risk is the most dangerous? Why?
- What other risks can you think of?
- Do you think the plan is good enough?
Practice
Picture the situation
Identify → Assess → Mitigate → Monitor. Good planners do not expect problems; they prepare for them.
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Say it in your own words
Write one sentence. Several answers are possible.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A useful tip
Speaking
How to use this section
Your tutor plays a project manager or a client. Discuss risks, probability and plans. Use may / might / could / likely / unlikely / probably and If …, we will …
Naming a risk
Task: tell your manager about a risk.
Starter: "There is a risk that the supplier might be late with the goods."
Assessing the risk
Task: say how likely it is and how serious.
Starter: "It is quite likely, and the impact would be high, because we could lose a week."
Explaining the plan
Task: say what you will do if it happens.
Starter: "If the supplier is late, we will call a second supplier, and we will use our back-up stock."
Talking about a weather risk
Task: discuss an event risk.
Starter: "It is likely to rain on the day. If it does, we will move the party to the hotel hall."
Talking about a technical risk
Task: discuss a possible system failure.
Starter: "The internet could fail. We will test it twice, and if it fails, we will use mobile hotspots."
Asking a colleague
Task: ask about the consequences.
Starter: "What is the impact on the project if the speaker is ill? Do we have a back-up?"
Summarising
Task: summarise your risk assessment.
Starter: "To sum up, there are three main risks. We have a plan for each, and we will monitor them every week."
Full conversation — no stops
With your tutor, role-play a risk meeting: name three risks, assess them, explain your contingency plans and agree who will monitor them — entirely in English.
Let's talk — reflection
- How do you feel about taking risks?
- What is the most important safeguard in your job?
- Is it better to prepare for every risk or to act fast when something happens?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key vocabulary for risk and planning
- Talk about probability with may, might, could, likely and unlikely
- Describe a risk and its consequences
- Explain a contingency plan
Quick self-check
What follows might or may?
How do we say that something is not probable?
What is a contingency plan?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor one possible problem and your plan. → I think … might … If it happens, I will …
Homework
Words to remember
| a risk | ризик |
| a threat | загроза |
| a consequence | наслідок |
| a contingency plan | резервний план |
| a back-up | резервна копія / запасний варіант |
| likelihood | ймовірність |
| an impact | вплив, наслідок |
| to assess | оцінювати |
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct form
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a short risk assessment (6–8 sentences) for an event or a project. Name two risks, say how likely they are, and write a contingency plan for each with “If …, we will …”.
Practise out loud
Say your risk assessment aloud as if you were giving it to your manager.
Read aloud
Read the text “a short risk assessment” aloud twice before the next lesson.
- 8.7 I did the writing task
- 8.8 I practised out loud
- 8.9 I read the text aloud twice