The Facility Risk Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is a critical tool for evaluating and managing risks in various operational areas. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you read and interpret the SAQ report effectively:

1. Facility Information

Basic Details: Review the facility's details, including its name, address, contact information, and the primary products or services provided. This will set the context for the rest of the report.

Operational Metrics: Look at the total number of employees, the size of the facility, and the operational start date. This information provides insight into the facility's scale and experience.

2. Overall Facility Risk

Risk Scores: The report presents an overall risk score and specific scores for different categories, such as Labor, Health and Safety, Environmental, and Ethics. These scores are typically presented as percentages or points out of 100, indicating the severity of risks in each area.   High-Level Interpretation: Higher scores indicate lower risk levels. For example, a score below 60 would be considered high risk, suggesting significant areas for improvement.   RBA RISK SAQ Ranking Chart:

3. Detailed Risk Areas

	Labor: This section covers employment practices, the use of migrant workers, recruitment processes, and working conditions.    Key questions might include whether the facility uses recruitment agencies or if workers are paid according to a piece rate.   Critical Points: Pay special attention to responses regarding worker rights, recruitment fees, and contract terms, which can indicate potential labor risks.
	Health and Safety: This section focuses on workplace safety measures, health monitoring, emergency procedures, and worker accommodations. Please look for details about safety equipment, emergency drills, and health policies.   Critical Points: Safety systems like sprinklers and alarms and the frequency of health and safety risks.
	Environmental: Addresses environmental permits, waste management, emissions, and energy use. Check for compliance with environmental regulations and the effectiveness of waste management practices.   Critical Points: Significant indicators include the proportion of waste recycled and the facility’s distance from open water bodies.
	Ethics: This section encompasses ethical practices, data security, legal compliance, and supplier management. It might include questions about data encryption and links to government officials.   Critical Points: Important areas to review include the handling of personal data and the existence of any legal proceedings related to ethical risks.
	The Forced Labor score is calculated based on the responses from a subset of the SAQ's standard Risk Questions, which are the strongest indicators of the risk of forced labor conditions.
	The Country Governance score is derived using the World Governance Indicators (WGI), which the World Bank publishes annually. The registered location of the facility completing the SAQ to calculate the Country score
	The Product score uses a proprietary risk rating for the products selected in question number FI8. These rates are leveraged from the RBA Risk Assessment Platform
	The VAP Adjustment acts as a feedback loop for facilities that have undergone a VAP assessment within the past two years. Based on the performance in the VAP, an increasing number of points are added to the Overall score.

Specific Risk Questions

Each risk area contains questions to assess particular aspects of the facility’s operations. These questions often require binary (Yes/No) or scaled responses.

Examples:

• Labor: "Do you use recruitment agencies and/or labor agencies?"
• Health and Safety: "Does your facility have a sprinkler system in the production area?"
• Environmental: "Is hazardous waste tracked and documented?"
• Ethics: "Do you encrypt all the personal information you store?"

Control Questions

Indicate the management systems in place to help monitor and control the risks identified in the risk section. 
They provide an opportunity to increase your overall risk score by up to 10 points by giving documentation on the management controls to help mitigate the risk. Any questions answered in the affirmative require documentation to be uploaded. 
 

Verification Step (Step 3 - Optional)

The RBA Staff can remotely verify the facilities' Management Controls. Please note that there are additional service charges associated with the verification step. ($250 for non-members and $150 for Members. )

Scoring and Interpretation

The scoring algorithm for the RISK SAQ brings into account inherent geographic, product, and governance risks. The weightings for each question were also normalized, making each question an equally weighted risk factor. Please see this article for more details: https://help.responsiblebusiness.org/saqs/how-is-the-risk-saq-scored

Benefits of the SAQ

Enhanced Risk Management: Provides a structured approach to identifying and addressing risks, helping prioritize mitigation efforts based on severity and impact.

Compliance Assurance: Ensures the organization meets regulatory requirements and industry standards, enhancing compliance.

Improved Decision-Making: Informs management decisions with comprehensive risk data, supporting proactive risk management.

Increased Stakeholder Confidence: This demonstrates a commitment to risk management and builds trust with customers, partners, and regulators.