What does a risk assessment aim to estimate?

A risk assessment is specifically designed to evaluate the potential adverse effects that might arise from exposure to various health hazards. It systematically identifies hazards, assesses the risks associated with them, and determines the likelihood of those risks resulting in negative health outcomes. This process is critical in environments where safety is a primary concern, as it enables designers, engineers, and health professionals to make informed decisions about risk management and mitigation strategies.

In contrast, the other options relate more to business and product development aspects rather than directly assessing health risks. Market viability assesses whether a product can succeed in the market, the financial cost of production estimates expenditures necessary to create a product, and the effectiveness of a marketing strategy evaluates how well a marketing effort meets its goals. None of these directly focus on estimating the likelihood of adverse health effects from exposure to hazards, which is the specific purpose of a risk assessment.