Until now there has been little information available to engineers to help them assimilate quickly the basic theories and practice of risk management; nor has information been widely available on the risk assessments actually produced and the risk management undertaken by those working in the construction industry . Previous text books and articles on risk management have been either academic works with little practical civil engineering content or highly detailed reports which focus on specialised applications.

Practical risk management in the construction industry provides engineers with an easily understandable overview of the risk management procedures that are applicable generally to commercial organizations, the risks that might arise particularly in construction and, by the use of practical examples, how those risks can be managed.

The book has been divided into two sections:

Part 1 provides a guide to the general principles of risk management, hazard identification assessment of probability and consequences, establishment of priorities, elimination or reduction of risks and provisions that can be made for residual risks.

Part 2 describes how many of those general principles can be applied by the various parties involved in construction, e.g. clients, contractors and other professionals.