As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP)
The term ‘As Low As Reasonably Practicable’ (ALARP) is commonly used in safety management to refer to residual risks in the workplace, which should be reduced to as low a level as it reasonably practicable to achieve. Similar alternatives terms include; ‘So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable’ (SFAIRP) and ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’ (ALARA).
ALARP relates to the time, cost and effort required to control a risk balanced against the severity of the risk. When a risk is reduced to a point that is ALARP, the cost and effort involved in reducing the risk further would be disproportionate to the amount of benefit that would be gained.
What is ‘reasonably practicable’ is typically based on assessment, common sense, best practice, and the duties set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974). A further definition was laid down by the Court of Appeal in the case of ‘Edwards v. National Coal Board’ [1949]:
‘’Reasonably practicable’ is a narrower term than ‘physically possible’ … a computation must be made by the owner in which the quantum of risk is placed on one scale and the sacrifice involved in the measures necessary for averting the risk (whether in money, time or trouble) is placed in the other, and that, if it be shown that there is a gross disproportion between them – the risk being insignificant in relation to the sacrifice – the defendants discharge the onus on them.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Health and safety.
- Health and safety at work etc act 1974.
- Health and Safety Executive.
- How to write a method statement.
- Near miss.
- Notify HSE.
- Reporting accidents and injuries on construction sites.
- Risk assessment.
- Risk assessments and method statements.
- Risk management.
- Safety management.
- So far as is reasonably practicable.
- So Far As Is Reasonably Practical.
- What is a hazard?
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.