Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems worked example

Contamination Risk with contamination severity rating of 3 score: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop contamination severity rating to 3 score, then walk the calculation through step by step. Calculate contamination risk for hydraulic, pneumatic & fluid power systems planning, quoting, troubleshooting, capacity review, or process improvement.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Contamination severity rating: 3 score (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 6)
  • Contamination occurrence likelihood rating: 4 score (held at the documented default)
  • Contamination detection difficulty rating: 3 score (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Contamination Risk risk score = severity × 0.40 + occurrence × 0.35 + detection × 0.25.
  • Risk score works out to 3.35 score at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Severity works out to 3 score at these inputs.
  • Occurrence works out to 4 score at these inputs.
  • Detection works out to 3 score at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where contamination severity rating sits at 6 score and the headline result is 4.55 score, this scenario comes in 26.37% below the baseline at 3.35 score.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to contamination severity rating, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. The fixed 40/35/25 weights are a sensible default but are not universal; a system where undetected contamination is catastrophic may warrant a higher detection weight.

Results at a glance

  • Risk score: 3.35 score (headline result)
  • Severity: 3 score
  • Occurrence: 4 score
  • Detection: 3 score

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Contamination Risk calculator, set contamination severity rating to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.