Numerous approaches have been used or proposed for assessing risks to cultural properties. These approaches range from single degree of belief probability estimates and acceptability judgments, through simple linguistic scales such as large, medium and small risks, and semi-quantitative scales, to quantitative measures. This paper presents a sampling of the diversity of approaches encountered. Advantages and disadvantages of different approaches are described. The relation between the accountability framework within which decisions are made and the selection of an appropriate scale is discussed.