This paper proposes a risk-based process performance assessment methodology using loss functions. The proposed method helps to overcome the existing challenges in assessing impacts of deviations of process variables on safety and economy of a process operation. The inverted Beta loss function is used to incorporate the effects of process deviations on the safety and quality losses. The demand rate adjustment factor is used to model the effect of process deviations on the failure probability of safety systems. The probability of a failed process state due to abnormal events is continuously updated based on the current value of the characteristic variables. The use of the loss function approach in combination with probability updating provides a continuously revised risk estimation. Such a real-time risk profile provides a leading performance indicator for decision-making at an operational level. As an example, a temperature surge in a continuous stirred tank reactor is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methodology. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.