Risk transfer is a risk management and control strategy that involves the shifting of a pure risk from one party to another through a contractual arrangement. This can be accomplished through various means, such as insurance policies, hold-harmless clauses, and contractual requirements to provide insurance coverage for another partys benefit. One common example of risk transfer is the purchase of an insurance policy, where a specified risk of loss is passed from the policyholder to the insurer. When done effectively, risk transfer allocates risk equitably, placing responsibility for risk on designated parties consistent with their ability to control and insure against that risk. This strategy is crucial for businesses, households, communities, and state authorities to manage and mitigate specific losses that may or may not occur.
In summary, risk transfer is a vital risk management technique that allows for the shifting of specific risks from one party to another, often through insurance policies or contractual agreements, to help protect against potential losses.