Who is this programme for?
Employees, supervisors and safety personnel involved in identifying hazards, recording assessments and reviewing workplace controls.
HIRA brings hazard identification and risk assessment together. It helps teams make the link between what could cause harm and the priorities for prevention.
What will you learn?
Learn to turn observations into a reasoned assessment and a practical set of control actions.
- Identifying hazards, people exposed and foreseeable consequences.
- Evaluating likelihood and severity and selecting controls using the hierarchy of control.
- Recording decisions, communicating actions and reviewing after change or incidents.
What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. Risk considers how harm could occur, how likely it is and how serious the consequences could be. For example, a moving vehicle is a hazard; the risk depends on factors such as pedestrian access, visibility and the movement being planned.
Understanding that distinction helps you select controls for the actual circumstances. It also makes it easier to explain why two apparently similar tasks may need different precautions or review dates.
How is the published knowledge assessment structured?
The OSHAS programme page describes an open-book knowledge assessment with 2 hours allowed and a minimum pass score of 65%. These are the rules for this programme, not a universal pass mark for every OSHAS course. Practical duties also require competence appropriate to the work.
Is completing a risk-assessment form enough?
The form records a decision; the value comes from understanding the work and applying the controls. An assessment should help people decide what to change, who will act and when effectiveness will be reviewed. Reusing a generic form without checking the actual task can miss important differences.