HAZARD IDENTIFICATION &
RISK ASSESSMENT (HIRA) AWARENESS
Building a Proactive Culture of Risk Recognition and Control
Presented by HSEDocuments.com | Aligned with ISO 45001:2018 & OSHA 29 CFR 1910
Rev. 01 | 2026
Agenda
1
Introduction & Background
2
Session Objectives
3
Legal & Standard Requirements
4
Hazard Categories & Risk Factors
5
The HIRA Process
6
Risk Assessment Matrix
7
Hierarchy of Controls & Responsibilities
8
Documentation, Reporting & Audit
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1
Introduction & Background
Definition
HIRA is the systematic process of recognizing hazards in the workplace and evaluating the associated level of risk to determine appropriate controls.
Why It Matters
Unrecognized hazards are a leading contributor to workplace incidents worldwide (ILO / OSHA data). A structured HIRA process shifts an organization from reactive to proactive risk management.
Scope of This Session
Covers hazard identification, risk evaluation, and control selection across construction, MEP, facility management, and general industrial sites.
HIRA
is a core requirement of every recognized occupational health & safety management system
Effective HIRA is proactive, not a one-time exercise — it is reviewed whenever work, equipment, or conditions change.
Figures are general / industry-typical indicators, not site-specific statistics.
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2
Session Objectives
IDENTIFY
workplace hazards across all task categories
EXPLAIN
the steps of the HIRA process
APPLY
the risk assessment matrix to rate likelihood and severity
DEMONSTRATE
selection of controls using the hierarchy of controls
COMPLY
with site HIRA documentation and review procedures
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3
Legal & Regulatory Requirements
Standard / Regulation | Requirement Summary |
ISO 45001:2018 | Clause 6.1.2 - Hazard identification and assessment of risks and opportunities |
ISO 12100 | Safety of machinery - general principles for risk assessment |
OSHA 29 CFR 1910 | General industry hazard recognition and risk control guidance |
Local / Regional Regulation | Risk assessment requirements apply per applicable jurisdiction |
Company HSE Policy | [Insert Company Policy Reference Placeholder] |
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4
Hazard Categories & Risk Factors
Physical
Noise, height, moving machinery
Chemical
Fumes, solvents, dust exposure
Biological
Bacteria, mould, sharps
Ergonomic
Repetitive motion, awkward posture
Psychosocial
Fatigue, work pressure, stress
Environmental
Weather, spills, terrain
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5
The HIRA Process
1. Identify
Recognize hazards present in the task, area, or activity
2. Assess
Evaluate likelihood and severity to determine risk level
3. Control
Select controls using the hierarchy of controls
4. Implement
Put controls in place and communicate to the workforce
5. Review
Monitor effectiveness and reassess when conditions change
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6
Risk Assessment Matrix
Risk Rating = Likelihood × Severity
Negligible
Minor
Moderate
Major
Catastrophic
Almost Certain
5
10
15
20
25
Likely
4
8
12
16
20
Possible
3
6
9
12
15
Unlikely
2
4
6
8
10
Rare
1
2
3
4
5
Likelihood
Low (1-4): Acceptable
Medium (5-9): Monitor
High (10-15): Reduce
Extreme (16-25): Stop & Control
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Hierarchy of Controls & Responsibilities
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering
Administrative
PPE
Preferred controls (left) always take priority over PPE, which is the last line of defense.
Roles & Responsibilities (RACI)
Activity | Management | HSE Team | Supervisor | Worker |
Hazard Identification | I | R | C | R |
Risk Rating | A | R | C | I |
Control Selection | A | R | C | I |
Review & Update | I | R | A | C |
R = Responsible A = Accountable C = Consulted I = Informed
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8
Documentation & Reporting Requirements
All templates and forms referenced above are available free at HSEDocuments.com
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9
Trigger Events & Reporting Flow
When to Trigger a HIRA Review
Reporting Flow
Worker
Supervisor
HSE Team
Management
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10
Common Non-Conformances / Case Study
Generic Lessons-Learned Scenario
A new work process was introduced on site without an updated risk assessment. A hazard specific to the new process went unrecognized, resulting in a near-miss during the first week of operation.
Root Causes Identified
Lesson: Treat any process, equipment, or site change as a mandatory HIRA review trigger.
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Inspection, Monitoring & Audit Checkpoints
1
% of tasks with a current, valid risk assessment
2
Number of HIRA reviews triggered by process/site changes
3
Average time to close identified high-risk findings
4
Worker participation rate in hazard identification
5
Near-miss reporting trend linked to unassessed hazards
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12
Do's and Don'ts
DO'S
DON’TS
Involve workers who perform the task
Consider all six hazard categories
Rate both likelihood and severity
Apply the hierarchy of controls in order
Re-assess after any process or site change
Keep the HIRA register current
Don’t assess a task from a desk only
Don’t rely on PPE as the first control
Don’t treat HIRA as a one-time exercise
Don’t skip low-frequency or rare tasks
Don’t copy a generic assessment without site checks
Don’t ignore near-miss trends
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13
Key Takeaways
Stay Safe. Stay Compliant.
Visit HSEDocuments.com for free, editable HSE/QHSE/QA-QC forms, templates & resources — worldwide.
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