What it Means

Risk avoidance is the simplest way to deal with risk: not doing the activity or staying away from the situation that creates the risk in the first place. In other words, you completely eliminate your exposure to that particular risk.

Examples

• Lockdown during COVID-19 – a large-scale example of governments avoiding risk of virus spread by restricting movement.
• Building warehouse in flood prone areas to avoid damage to goods.

Why It’s Important

• It prevents both the chance of loss and the loss itself because you never enter the risky situation.
• It can save life, health, property and financial resources, especially when the risk could cause severe or catastrophic damage.
• For students, it encourages safer choices in daily life (safe travel, careful use of online platforms, avoiding hazardous environments).

How to practice Risk Avoidance

• Identify the risk clearly – Understand what activities or situations have a high probability of causing harm (e.g. slippery roads, careless driving, exposure to contagious diseases).
• Seek alternatives – For example, use online meetings instead of travelling during severe weather, or store goods in a safer warehouse.
• Talk to a family member or an expert – Where you sense anything risky.