This specialized course provides the foundational and procedural knowledge necessary to implement a comprehensive HIRA program. It is the cornerstone of any effective occupational health and safety management system, ensuring that risks are quantified, prioritized, and controlled before they lead to injury or loss.

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Major Topics Covered

 

• Legal Mandate and Definitions

  • Understanding the requirements for Risk Assessment under the OHS Act and specific regulations (e.g., Construction Regulations).

  • Defining key terms: Hazard, Risk, Risk Assessment, and Competent Person.

  • The legal necessity of continuous HIRA for all work activities.

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• The Risk Assessment Process

  • Step 1: Hazard Identification (Techniques for finding potential hazards).

  • Step 2: Risk Analysis (Determining the Likelihood and Severity of harm).

  • Step 3: Risk Evaluation (Prioritizing risks based on a risk matrix).

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• Types of Risk Assessments

  • Baseline Risk Assessment (The initial, broad assessment for the entire operation).

  • Issue-Based Risk Assessment (Focusing on a specific task or change).

  • Continuous Risk Assessment (Daily, pre-task checks and monitoring).

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• Hazard Identification Techniques

  • Conducting effective Physical Inspections/Walkabouts.

  • Consulting with workers and reviewing Incident/Accident Records.

  • Using Checklists and Job Safety Analysis (JSA).

  • Identifying the five main hazard categories (Physical, Chemical, Biological, Ergonomic, and Psychosocial).

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• Applying the Hierarchy of Control

  • Understanding the control framework: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering, Administrative Controls, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

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By the end of this course

learners will be competent to lead the HIRA process, conduct various types of risk assessments, classify hazards, determine risk levels, and implement the necessary control measures to eliminate or mitigate risks to acceptable levels in the workplace.