Risk Assessment Awareness
The five steps of risk assessment and the hierarchy of control, explained in plain English.
About this course
Welcome to this awareness course on risk assessment. Every job on a construction site or in a workplace carries some level of risk, and understanding how to spot, judge and control that risk is one of the most useful skills any worker or supervisor can have.
This course explains the legal background, the language used around risk, and the five practical steps used to carry out a risk assessment. It is written for operatives, supervisors and anyone who wants a clear, practical understanding of the subject.
The course runs entirely in your browser. You can stop at any point and pick up where you left off, and once you pass the final assessment you can download a PDF certificate straight away.
Who it's for
- Supervisors and team leaders
- Operatives contributing to point-of-work assessments
- Anyone new to writing or reviewing risk assessments
- Managers reviewing existing assessments
Snippets from the course
Two short extracts taken straight from the course material, so you know exactly what you're signing up for.
Likelihood
Likelihood describes how probable it is that a hazard will actually cause harm, given the current circumstances and controls. It is often judged on a simple scale, such as low, medium or high, or sometimes numerically from 1 to 5.
Using a risk matrix
A risk matrix is a simple tool that combines likelihood and severity scores to give an overall risk rating. A typical 5x5 matrix scores likelihood from 1 (rare) to 5 (almost certain), and severity from 1 (minor) to 5 (fatal/major), then multiplies them together.
What's covered
Welcome and Introduction
- Welcome to Risk Assessment Awareness
- Who this course is for
- How the course is structured
- How the assessment works
The Law and Why We Assess Risk
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- What makes an assessment suitable and sufficient
- Other relevant duties
Hazard, Risk, Likelihood and Severity
- Hazard versus risk
- Likelihood
- Severity
- Combining likelihood and severity
Step 1-2: Identifying Hazards and Who Might Be Harmed
- Step 1: identifying hazards
- Step 2: deciding who might be harmed
- Practical hazard-spotting techniques
- Common hazards found on site
Step 3: Evaluating Risk and Using a Risk Matrix
- Step 3: evaluating risk
- Using a risk matrix
- Worked example
- Prioritising action
Step 4: The Hierarchy of Control and Choosing Controls
- Step 4: choosing controls
- The hierarchy of control
- Applying the hierarchy in practice
- Why PPE is a last resort, not a first choice
Step 5: Recording, Communicating and Reviewing
- Step 5: recording the assessment
- Communicating findings: briefings and toolbox talks
- Method statements and permits to work
- Reviewing the assessment
Summary and Putting It Into Practice
- Bringing it all together
- The five steps, recap
- Everyone has a part to play
- Putting it into practice: a simple habit
Final assessment
A longer multiple-choice assessment covering every module. Score 80% or more and your PDF certificate is issued immediately. You can retake it as many times as you need.
Start Risk Assessment Awareness now
8 modules, a test after each one and a final assessment — all in your browser, all saved as you go.
You'll be asked to sign in or create a free account first, then pay £29.99 (includes VAT at 20%) to unlock the course. Your progress and certificate are saved to your account.