Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify workplace hazards systematically: using multiple identification techniques (workplace inspections, JHA, incident/near-miss review, worker consultation, equipment review, chemical inventory review, process review) rather than relying on any single method.
• Classify hazards by category: physical (noise, vibration, heat, radiation, electricity, machinery), chemical (gases, vapours, dusts, liquids), biological (pathogens, mould, animal-borne), ergonomic (manual handling, repetitive motion, posture), and psychosocial (stress, fatigue, violence, bullying).
• Conduct risk assessment using likelihood × consequence matrices: defining likelihood scales (rare to almost certain), consequence scales (negligible to catastrophic), multiplying to determine risk level, and the qualitative and semi-quantitative approaches appropriate for different organisational contexts.
• Rank risks for prioritisation: using the risk matrix output to classify risks (critical, high, medium, low), prioritising critical and high risks for immediate control, and allocating resources where risk reduction is greatest.
• Apply the hierarchy of controls to prioritised risks: elimination (remove the hazard), substitution (replace with less hazardous alternative), engineering controls (physical barriers, ventilation, guarding), administrative controls (procedures, training, scheduling), and PPE (last resort, used when higher-level controls are insufficient).
• Conduct Job Hazard Analysis (JHA/JSA): breaking tasks into steps, identifying hazards at each step, assessing risk for each hazard, and selecting controls — the task-level HIRA methodology used for daily work planning.
• Apply bow-tie analysis: mapping the top event (loss of control), threats on the left (what can cause it), prevention barriers between threats and the top event, consequences on the right (what happens if control is lost), and mitigation barriers between the top event and consequences.
• Assess residual risk: evaluating the risk remaining after controls are implemented, determining whether residual risk is acceptable, and the ALARP principle for risk acceptance decisions.
• Maintain risk registers: documenting identified hazards, assessed risks, selected controls, responsible persons, implementation dates, and review dates in the risk register that serves as the living record of the organisation’s risk profile.
• Integrate HIRA into the safety management system: HIRA as the input to training programmes, inspection programmes, audit programmes, emergency planning, and management review — the assessment that drives every other safety activity.

Core Curriculum Topics

• Hazard Categories: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychosocial
• Hazard Identification Techniques: inspections, JHA, incident review, consultation, process review
• Risk Assessment Fundamentals: likelihood, consequence, risk level, qualitative vs semi-quantitative
• Risk Matrices: scale design, multiplication, interpretation, organisational customisation
• Risk Ranking and Prioritisation: critical/high/medium/low, resource allocation
• Hierarchy of Controls: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE
• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA/JSA): task steps, hazard identification, risk assessment, control selection
• Bow-Tie Analysis: threats, prevention barriers, top event, consequences, mitigation barriers
• Residual Risk and ALARP: post-control risk, acceptability, as low as reasonably practicable
• Risk Registers: documentation, responsible persons, review dates, living document
• HIRA Integration: connecting assessment to training, inspection, audit, emergency, review

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English; working proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• Safety officers conducting workplace risk assessments and maintaining risk registers
• Supervisors and foremen who perform JHA/JSA for daily work tasks
• Safety managers developing risk-based safety programmes
• Operations managers who need to understand risk prioritisation for resource allocation
• Safety committee members involved in hazard identification and assessment
• Anyone involved in ISO 45001 implementation where HIRA is a core requirement

• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment — YOU ARE HERE (HIRA methodology)
• Safety Leadership and Supervision (leading risk-based safety)
• CHSO / RHSO (certifications where HIRA is a core competency)
• International Diploma in Industrial Safety Management (Unit 2: risk assessment at diploma depth including QRA)
• International Diploma in Process Safety Management (PHA methodology including HAZOP, FMEA)