U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Risk Lexicon
The second edition of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Risk Lexicon is now available.
Risk is a key organizing principle for homeland security strategies, programs, efforts, and activities. The Department’s risk management process, by which risk information is gathered, aggregated, analyzed, and communicated, must be supported by precise and unambiguous language. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Risk Steering Committee (RSC) initiated the DHS Risk Lexicon Project and in September 2008 published the first DHS Risk Lexicon.
The DHS Risk Lexicon provides a set of terms for use by the homeland security risk community of interest (COI) and represents an important and ongoing effort to enable integrated risk management (IRM) across the Department.
The DHS Policy for Integrated Risk Management, signed by Secretary Napolitano in May 27, 2010, states that IRM is achieved, in part, by:
Building a common understanding of risk management through development of a risk lexicon, risk-informed planning process, training, and standards of practice.
Risk management and analysis supports specific h omeland security missions and determines how homeland security functions can be best used to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from hazards to the Nation. The ability to communicate precise concepts and meanings is essential for effective risk-informed decision making. Clear communication allows information to be used consistently to support decisions about the nature, cause, and severity of risks. This ability to communicate homeland security risk information with precision is critical to support decision making at all levels throughout the Department.
The DHS Risk Lexicon Project has identified and defined the terms that are essential to the practice of homeland security risk management. The DHS Risk Lexicon is intended to improve the internal management of DHS and facilitate commonplace discussions among the departmental risk community. The DHS Risk Lexicon establishes a common vocabulary and language that will improve risk-related communications between DHS Components. However, it must be noted that other definitions may be found in guidance, regulations, or statutes that will be specifically applicable in those regulatory or legal contexts. The DHS Risk Lexicon is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the United States, its departments, agencies, or other entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
This publication represents the most recent collection of terms and definitions of the DHS Risk Lexicon. Additionally, it describes the governance process for generating additional terms and maintaining the DHS Risk Lexicon. Finally, it lays out expectations for the adoption and use of the DHS Risk Lexicon within the homeland security risk COI.
See U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Risk Lexicon.
Tags: Department of Homeland Security, DHS, lexicon, risk, risk lexicon
