Hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA) study offers a systematic approach to assess hazards and their associated risks. HIRA Safety helps to determine the objective of an identified hazard and provide the technique to manage the risk.
It is the comprehensive process of assessment of hazards, risk examination, and risk estimation.
The following are the types of risk assessments, There are three types of risk assessments namely Baseline Risk Assessments, Issue-Based Risk Assessments and Continuous Risk Assessments.
The baseline risk assessment is conducted to identify the risk occurring at first time, Based on the outputs of the Baseline risk assessment, definite aspects or issues will be accentuated. The Baseline risk assessment should be reviewed on planned intermissions to restore the baseline profile so as to reduce HIRA Safety risks in an organization.
An Issue-based risk assessment will be conducted due to accentuated aspects or issues, occurrence of new processes, Installing new machines or the ongoing assessment of Hazard in an organization.
Continuous risk assessments forms a part of all inspections and observations that occurs on routine basis.
In this phase all possible incidents are determined and catalogued. Field visit and study of all procedures related to Operations and Input documents like Drawings and Process write-up are used in identification of Hazards.
Inputs Needed
HIRA is highly dependent on the availability and accuracy of the input data, When provided with complete Input data, a higher confidence on the validity and robustness of the results are obtained. The example of data collection will be specific to operations, building design, personnel / population occupancy levels.
Risk Assessment Methodology
HIRA Risk Assessment is employed for risk management and safety improvement in several industries. It provides a quantitative assessment of potential risks known and provides a basis for evaluating process safety with reference to a planned risk acceptance criterion.
The study method is a combination of identification, analysis and brain storming based on the hazards identified which is divided into four main sections containing several categories. The generally applicable categories are;
| Likelihood | Description | Rating |
| Most Likely | The presumably result of the hazard/event being realized | 5 |
| Possible | Has a good probability of occurring and is not unusual | 4 |
| Conceivable | Might occur at some time in future | 3 |
| Remote | Has not been identified to occur after several years | 2 |
| Inconceivable | Is practically not possible and has never occurred | 1 |
| Severity | Description | Rating |
| Catastrophic | Numerous fatalities, irretrievable property damage and productivity | 5 |
| Fatal | Approximately one single fatality or major property damage if hazard is realized | 4 |
| Serious | Non-fatal injury, permanent disability | 3 |
| Minor | Disabling however permanent injury | 2 |
| Negligible | Minor abrasions, bruises, cut, first aid type injury | 1 |
| Risk | Description | Action |
| 15 – 25 | HIGH | A HIGH risk needs immediate action to manage the hazard as detailed within the hierarchy of control. Actions taken to be documented on the risk assessment form as well as date for completion. |
| 5 - 12 | MEDIUM | A MEDIUM risk needs a planned approach to manage the hazard and applies temporary measure if needed. Action to be documented on the risk assessment form as well as date of completion. |
| 1 – 4 | LOW | A LOW risk could also be considered as acceptable and any reduction might not be necessary. However, if risk can be resolved quickly and expeditiously, control measures got to be enforced and recorded. |
Location specific Individual risk (LSIR) is that the risk for a hypothetical individual positioned at particular location for 24 hours on a daily basis 365 days per year. The LSIR criteria are employed in order to produce an over view of the long run industrial land use planning and developments. This individual risk is acquired directly from the risk software’s. The LSIR derived from risk software shall be supplied with the unit of Individual / societal Risk Frequency per year.
