Identify the hazards
Look at the task, the place, and the people, and list anything with the potential to cause harm.
Learning Topic
Risk Assessment Basics
An introductory learning topic on risk assessment - the foundational "assess before you act" discipline that sits beneath every safe task: spotting hazards, judging how likely and how serious the harm could be, and deciding the controls that keep people safe.
Learning Topic
What this topic covers
Risk assessment is the structured way teams look at a task before it starts: identify what could cause harm, judge how likely it is and how serious it could be, and decide the controls that reduce the risk to an acceptable level - then record it and review it over time.
This topic introduces those fundamentals in plain language. It is a practical preview for company teams - the foundation that sits beneath permits, isolation, and every other safe-working topic, and a starting point before structured training tailored to your site.
Why risk assessment matters
Almost every incident traces back to a hazard that was not spotted, not judged seriously enough, or not controlled. Risk assessment is where that chain is broken - before the work, not after the injury.
It also makes safety decisions deliberate and shared. When hazards, likelihood, severity, and controls are written down, the whole team works from the same understanding instead of individual assumptions.
When risk assessment is needed
Risk assessment is not a one-off form - it applies whenever the risk picture could change. Common triggers include:
Before a new task, process, or piece of equipment is introduced.
When a method, material, or location changes.
For non-routine, one-off, or higher-risk work.
After an incident or near-miss reveals something new.
On a regular review cycle, to confirm the controls still work.
Key learning outcomes
By the end of this topic, learners should be able to:
Explain what risk assessment is and why it comes first.
Identify common workplace hazards.
Judge risk in terms of likelihood and severity.
Describe the hierarchy of controls and apply it in order.
Recognise when an assessment needs to be reviewed.
Core risk assessment concepts
A simple, repeatable cycle sits behind every good assessment.
Assess likelihood and severity
Judge how likely harm is and how serious it could be - this is what turns a hazard into a rated risk.
Decide and apply controls
Choose controls that reduce the risk, working down the hierarchy from most to least effective.
Record the assessment
Write down the hazards, the risks, and the controls so the decision is clear, shared, and traceable.
Review and communicate
Revisit the assessment when things change, and make sure everyone affected understands it.
Hazard identification
Identifying hazards is the first and most important step. Hazards usually fall into a few broad categories:
- Physical (slips, trips, falls, noise)
- Electrical
- Mechanical and moving parts
- Chemical and substances
- Thermal (heat, cold, fire)
- Ergonomic and manual handling
- Environmental and working conditions
The hierarchy of controls
Not all controls are equally effective. The hierarchy ranks them from most to least effective - always start at the top and work down.
Eliminate
Remove the hazard completely - the most effective control, wherever it is possible.
Substitute
Replace the hazard with something less dangerous.
Engineering controls
Isolate people from the hazard with guards, barriers, ventilation, or interlocks.
Administrative controls
Change how people work - procedures, training, signage, permits, and rotation.
PPE
Protect the individual with personal equipment - used to support the controls above, never to replace them.
PPE is the last line of defence, not the first.
Roles and responsibilities
Risk assessment works when responsibility is shared and clear.
Employers and assessors
Make sure suitable assessments are carried out, recorded, and acted on by competent people.
Supervisors and team leads
Put the controls in place, check they are followed, and feed back what is not working.
Workers
Follow the controls, stay alert to new hazards, and raise concerns and near-misses early.
Common mistakes to avoid
A few avoidable habits weaken most assessments.
Treating the assessment as paperwork instead of a real decision about controls.
Listing hazards but never deciding or applying controls.
Jumping straight to PPE instead of working down the hierarchy.
Assessing once and never reviewing when things change.
Writing it without involving the people who do the work.
Ignoring near-misses that signal a hazard was missed.
Putting it to work on site
Fundamentals matter most when they shape day-to-day behaviour.
Before the task
Walk the job, identify hazards with the team, and agree the controls before work starts.
During the work
Use the agreed controls, and stop to reassess if the task, place, or conditions change.
After and review
Capture what was learned, log near-misses, and update the assessment for next time.
Frequently asked questions
What is a risk assessment?
A structured way to spot hazards, judge how likely and how serious harm could be, and decide the controls that reduce the risk before work starts.
Why does it matter before work?
Most incidents trace back to a hazard that was not spotted or controlled. Assessing risk first is where that chain is broken - before the task, not after the injury.
How does it connect to other topics?
It is the foundation beneath the others: it informs permits, the choice to isolate energy, electrical precautions, and the personal protection needed.
Is this page a substitute for formal training?
No. It is an introductory learning resource and not a substitute for formal training, site procedures, supervisor instructions, or company safety rules.
Related learning topics
Permit-to-Work Fundamentals
How a risk-based decision becomes a formal authorisation that controls high-risk work.
Explore Permit-to-Work FundamentalsPower Plant Safety
How hazard awareness and assessment keep operation and maintenance teams safe across power environments.
Explore Power Plant SafetyPPE and Safety Readiness
How the hierarchy of controls ends at the right protective equipment and a ready worker.
Explore PPE and Safety Readiness
Elite Energy is a TVTC-licensed training center. This page is an introductory educational resource and is not a substitute for an employer's formal risk assessment process, site rules, or legal safety obligations.
Planning risk assessment training for your team?
Request a company training proposal and the team will help shape the right pathway for your site, tasks, and roles.