HIRA

HIRA, in safety and risk management terms, stands for Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. It is a systematic approach used to identify potential hazards, assess the risks they pose, and implement controls to prevent injury, illness, or damage. HIRA is applied across industries such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and public safety, and is often integrated into broader safety management systems like ISO 45001.

The process typically involves hazard identification, risk analysis, risk evaluation, risk control, documentation, communication, and review. A typical workflow includes: identify hazards; determine who could be harmed and how; assess risk by considering likelihood and consequence; prioritize risks and select controls using the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE); implement and monitor controls; review effectiveness and update assessments as conditions change; and communicate findings to workers and stakeholders.

Methods and tools commonly used in HIRA include checklists, what-if analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP), and bow-tie analysis. Risk matrices or scoring systems help rank risks, and data sources may include incident records, inspections, and process information. The approach is typically iterative, with repeated assessments as processes, staff, or environments change.

Applications and impact: HIRA supports proactive safety planning, incident prevention, and regulatory compliance. It helps allocate resources, set performance targets, and drive continuous improvement through periodic reviews and updates.

Limitations: The quality of a HIRA depends on the availability of accurate information, team expertise, and worker participation. Subjective judgments can influence results, and ongoing monitoring is essential to address evolving hazards and risk profiles.