Which statement describes 'Qualified: Reasonably Practicable' duties?

Which statement describes 'Qualified: Reasonably Practicable' duties?

• A. Lowest level of duty
• B. Allows for balance of risk vs cost
• C. If cost far outweighs risk then duty can be discharged
• D. If risk is high, cost irrelevant

Answer: (A)

Reasonably practicable duties hinge on a balancing act between how great the risk is and what it costs, in terms of time, effort, and money, to reduce that risk. The duty does not demand the absolute minimum or all possible measures regardless of cost, nor does it ignore cost when risk is high. Instead, you apply controls up to the point where further risk reduction would require a disproportionate sacrifice of resources. That makes the statement about balancing risk against cost the correct description. The other ideas—being the lowest level of duty, cost being irrelevant, or discharging the duty whenever cost outweighs risk—misstate how reasonably practicable works.

Reasonably practicable duties hinge on a balancing act between how great the risk is and what it costs, in terms of time, effort, and money, to reduce that risk. The duty does not demand the absolute minimum or all possible measures regardless of cost, nor does it ignore cost when risk is high. Instead, you apply controls up to the point where further risk reduction would require a disproportionate sacrifice of resources. That makes the statement about balancing risk against cost the correct description. The other ideas—being the lowest level of duty, cost being irrelevant, or discharging the duty whenever cost outweighs risk—misstate how reasonably practicable works.