This podcast contrasts prescriptive standards and risk-based equipment protection as approaches to ensuring safety in industrial settings. Prescriptive standards offer specific guidelines and requirements, while risk-based equipment protection focuses on identifying and addressing hazards based on their likelihood and potential consequences. Risk-based assessments involve conducting comprehensive risk assessments to prioritize mitigation efforts where they will have the greatest impact. While prescriptive standards provide a foundation for safety, risk-based assessments offer a more dynamic and adaptable approach. The author suggests that a combination of prescriptive standards and risk-based assessments may yield the best results in practice.