Introduction The following essay is on the role of risk perception in the context of risk regulations and management. The discussion examines the contribution of risk regulatory bodies in control and management of risks. It also examines the role of risk management in creating awareness about potential risks. Occupational health and safety is important due to the emerging risks in the workplace. The work environment has changed due to the reduced compensation regimes on injuries especially during the global economic recession. In addition, different work arrangements adopted by organisations have led to emergence of new hazards with the most common being psychological hazards due to fatigue, overwork and low compensation. The government, insurance agencies as well as regulatory bodies are also concerned with increased cases of industrial explosions, injuries and deaths in the workplace (Reason 2008). Risk perception To understand the risk perception, it is important to describe risk awareness. This is the extent to which individuals acknowledge their awareness of risks around them by examining how well they respond to warnings and information that alerts them about possible risk situations (Waring 1996). Risk management refers to the measures adopted to prevent occurrence of accidents in environments or situations that may be unsafe to the development of the possible risk situations (Kriebel & Moure 1998). Risk management involves risk assessment procedures to determine the possible risks that are likely to occur in any given scenario. Risk management is useful in environments such as hospitals, homes, offices, industries as well as recreational places (Reason 2008). Once the possible hazards have been identified, it is easier to design ways of responding to the occurrence as early as possible. Risk regulations refers to the agencies that are involved in the inspection of the industries, offices and homes to ensures that they have complied with the regulatory policies that govern risk management in different situations. Every industry has its own guidelines, which determine risk management. The risk management is critical not only in the prevention of hazards but also in preservation of human life and property (Turner 1978). Adhering to the set guidelines that determine risk management is imperative in determining the most convenient way of dealing with the possible risk situations. The other aspect that is of importance is the development of risk awareness (Kriebel & Moure 1998). Role of risk perception in the broad context of risk management and regulation Risk awareness is critical in mitigation of the risky circumstances. What risk perception does is to provide information to those involved in risky environments about hazards likely to occur and ways of controlling them. Risk awareness provides information about the development of the accidents and factors that may facilitate occurrence of such hazards. Risk perception alerts people who work in risky environments of the potential hazards that are likely to occur. A good example is that of Hurricane Isaac in USA where workers were evacuated earlier as soon as warning reports were issued concerning the hurricane. However, it is not always possible that high level of risk regulation and