HIRARC means Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control. It is the DOSH method to meet the risk assessment duty in section 18B. You list the work, find the hazards, score each risk and choose controls. This post gives you the steps, the scales and a worksheet.
Learn these skills in the course Occupational Safety and Health (BG-OSHA), module 3.
Who This Is For
Supervisors, OSH coordinators and safety officers who assess the risks of their work. Also HR staff who keep the records.
The Four Steps of HIRARC
- Classify the work activities, for example loading, packing or cleaning.
- Identify the hazards of each activity.
- Assess the risk of each hazard: score the likelihood and the severity.
- Decide if the risk is tolerable, and apply controls where needed.
Score the Likelihood and the Severity
| Score | Likelihood (L) | Severity (S) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Most likely: the most likely result of the hazard | Catastrophic: many deaths, irrecoverable damage |
| 4 | Possible: a good chance; not unusual | Fatal: about one death, major property damage |
| 3 | Conceivable: might occur at some time | Serious: non-fatal injury, permanent disability |
| 2 | Remote: not known to occur after many years | Minor: disabling but not permanent injury |
| 1 | Inconceivable: practically impossible | Negligible: first-aid injury, bruises, cuts |
Calculate the Risk and Act
Risk = Likelihood × Severity. The result is a number from 1 to 25.
| Risk Score | Level | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 15 to 25 | High | Act now. Record the action and the date. |
| 5 to 12 | Medium | Plan the control. Use a temporary measure if needed. |
| 1 to 4 | Low | Usually acceptable. Fix it if the fix is quick. |
Choose the Control
Start at the top of this list. Use the lower controls only when the higher ones are not practicable.
- Elimination: remove the hazardous job, tool or substance.
- Substitution: do the work in a less hazardous way, for example a safer chemical.
- Engineering control: redesign or isolate, for example a guard or an enclosure.
- Administrative control: safe work procedures, training, supervision, job rotation, housekeeping.
- Personal protective equipment: the last line of defence.
The HIRARC Worksheet
| Activity | Hazard | Effect | Existing Control | L | S | Risk | New Control | Person and Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forklift loading | Collision with a pedestrian | Serious injury | Speed limit | 4 | 3 | 12 Medium | Marked walkways, barrier at loading bay | Supervisor, 30 Nov |
Review the HIRARC every three years, or when the process or the activities change.
Example: A Warehouse Loading Bay
Take a warehouse where forklifts and pickers share the loading bay. The team scores pedestrian collision at 4 × 3 = 12, a medium risk. They mark walkways and add a barrier, an engineering control. After the change, they score it again.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Starting with protective equipment. Look at elimination and engineering controls first.
- Assessing alone. Ask the workers who do the job; they know the hazards.
- Writing a risk with no person and no date for the control.
- Filing the HIRARC and not reviewing it after a change in the work.
Try It This Week
Choose one activity in your area. Write three hazards. Score each with the two scales. Pick one control for the highest score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HIRARC required by law?
Section 18B requires a risk assessment. HIRARC is the DOSH guideline method to do it.
Who should do the HIRARC?
A small team: the supervisor, workers who do the job and the OSH coordinator or safety officer.
Sources: DOSH Guidelines for HIRARC, 2008; Act 514, updated text as at 1 June 2024 (DOSH).
Next Step
Read the full outline of Occupational Safety and Health (BG-OSHA). The next public class is on 11 and 12 November 2026. All dates are on the Training Calendar. For a group from your company, get a quote for in-house training. More Work Tips are in the skill area Sustainability, Health and Safety. Read also:
