Managing Risk under HSWA

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Managing Risk under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Managing risk is at the heart of creating a safe and healthy workplace. Under HSWA 2015, PCBUs are expected to take a proactive, systematic approach to risk. That means identifying what could go wrong, working out how serious it might be, and putting sensible controls in place to prevent harm. Let’s walk through the key steps involved.

1. Identifying Hazards

   Start by identifying the things in your workplace that could cause harm. Hazards might come from equipment, machinery, chemicals, physical layout, work processes or even the work environment itself. This is not a one-off task, but something that should happen regularly through inspections, task reviews, talking with workers, and keeping an eye on any changes to work arrangements.

2. Assessing the Risk

   Once hazards are identified, it is important to assess how likely harm is to occur and how serious that harm could be. Risk assessments help you decide which issues need urgent attention and which can be managed through routine procedures. It is a way of prioritising so that you are focusing your efforts where they matter most.

3. Implementing Control Measures

   The next step is putting controls in place to eliminate or reduce the risk. The law requires you to do this so far as is reasonably practicable. Use the hierarchy of control to guide you. Start with elimination if possible. If not, consider substitution, isolation, engineering solutions, administrative controls, and finally, personal protective equipment. Choose controls that are effective, realistic, and tailored to your work environment.

4. Involving Workers

   Engaging workers in this process is essential. They often know the job better than anyone else and can highlight risks or practical constraints that may not be obvious from the outside. Involving them helps ensure that the control measures are workable and genuinely reduce the risk.

5. Providing Training and Supervision

   Make sure people are properly trained for the work they do. That means understanding the hazards, knowing how to carry out tasks safely, recognising when something is not right, and using any required protective gear correctly. Training should be supported by supervision to reinforce safe behaviours and help people apply what they have learnt.

6. Monitoring and Reviewing Controls

   Risk management is not a set-and-forget process. Controls need to be monitored to check that they are working as intended. New hazards can emerge as work changes, equipment ages, or people rotate through tasks. Keep the process alive by reviewing incidents, gathering feedback from workers, and checking safety performance indicators. Make adjustments where needed.

7. Focusing on Continuous Improvement

   The best organisations treat risk management as something that is always evolving. Learn from what goes well and from what does not. Investigate near misses, share lessons, and regularly revisit your approach in light of changing technology, updated guidance, or insights from industry.

Managing risk under HSWA 2015 is about taking ownership. It is about creating an environment where risks are actively managed, workers are involved, and safety is built into day-to-day operations. Done well, it not only prevents harm but also strengthens your safety culture and enhances trust across the organisation.