Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and determining appropriate control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level. It follows the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE) and produces a documented record of identified risks and the measures taken to manage them.
Why it matters
Risk assessments are a legal requirement under Australian WHS legislation and form the foundation of any safety management system. They ensure that hazards are identified before work begins, controls are proportionate to the level of risk, and there is documented evidence of due diligence. Without formal risk assessments, organisations are exposed to preventable incidents and cannot demonstrate compliance during investigations or audits.
How MapTrack helps
MapTrack provides digital risk assessment templates that teams complete on mobile devices, linking each assessment to the relevant asset, site, or project for a complete risk management audit trail.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the five steps of a risk assessment?
The five steps are: (1) identify the hazards, (2) determine who might be harmed and how, (3) evaluate the risks and decide on control measures, (4) record the findings and implement the controls, and (5) review the assessment and update as necessary. This process is iterative and should be repeated whenever conditions, equipment, or procedures change.
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a SWMS?
A risk assessment is a broad process for identifying and evaluating hazards in any workplace activity. A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a specific document required under Australian WHS regulations for high-risk construction work. A SWMS includes the risk assessment findings plus detailed work steps, control measures, and responsibilities. In practice, the risk assessment feeds into the SWMS.
How often should risk assessments be reviewed?
Risk assessments should be reviewed whenever there is a change in the work activity, equipment, or environment, after an incident or near miss, when new information about a hazard becomes available, and at regular intervals (typically annually) even if no changes have occurred. Dynamic risk assessments, such as Take 5s, are performed before each task.
Related terms
Pre-Start Inspection
A pre-start inspection is a systematic check performed on plant, equipment, or vehicles before each use or shift to identify defects, damage, or unsafe conditions. It typically follows a standardised checklist covering safety-critical items such as brakes, steering, lights, tyres, guards, fluid levels, and warning devices. Pre-start inspections are a legal requirement under workplace health and safety regulations in most Australian jurisdictions.
Compliance Management
Compliance management in asset-intensive industries is the systematic process of ensuring that equipment, operations, and personnel meet all applicable regulatory, safety, environmental, and contractual requirements. It encompasses tracking inspection due dates, certifications, licences, safety checks, environmental obligations, and industry-specific standards. Compliance management requires both proactive scheduling and thorough record-keeping.
WHS compliance software
WHS compliance software is a digital platform that helps organisations meet Work Health and Safety obligations by managing inspections, incident reporting, risk assessments, corrective actions and audit trails. It replaces paper-based compliance registers with a single system of record that tracks what was checked, when, by whom and what evidence was attached.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is a safety procedure used to ensure that equipment is properly shut down, isolated from all energy sources, and cannot be restarted until maintenance or repair work is completed. Lockout involves physically locking energy isolation devices (such as circuit breakers or valves) in the off position, while tagout involves attaching a warning tag to the isolation point. LOTO protects workers from the unexpected release of hazardous energy during servicing.
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