What distinguishes enabling conditions from conditional modifiers?

Enabling conditions are factors that allow an incident to occur but do not directly contribute to its initiation. They create an environment where an incident can happen. In contrast, conditional modifiers are elements that influence the likelihood or severity of a hazardous event occurring. The distinction lies in their role within the incident sequence.

When analyzing incident sequences, enabling conditions are typically prerequisites or background factors that set the stage, while conditional modifiers affect the progression or outcome once the incident sequence has begun. This means that enabling conditions are more about creating the context necessary for an event, whereas conditional modifiers are more focused on altering the dynamics of the event itself. Understanding this distinction is crucial for effective risk assessment and determining appropriate mitigation strategies.