Risk Management (HIRARC):
​From Compliance to Culture

Why Risk Management Matters?
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Risk Management is not just a legal requirement—it’s the foundation of a safe and productive workplace. It’s about seeing risks before they become accidents and making decisions that protect people, performance, and reputation.
In Malaysia and globally, regulators call it Risk Management. On the ground, workers and supervisors know it as HIRARC—Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control.
👉 Risk Management is the system. HIRARC is the practice.

​Section 1: What is Risk Management?

• Hazard Identification → Spot what could cause harm.
  
• Risk Assessment → Judge how likely it is and how serious the outcome could be.
  
• Risk Control → Put in place measures that eliminate or reduce the risk.
  

Simple truth: If you can see it, you can manage it. If you manage it, you can prevent it.

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1. Identify Hazards Walk the site, talk to workers, use checklists. Hazards can be physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, or psychosocial.
2. Assess Risks Use the formula: Likelihood × Severity = Risk Rating. Plot it on a risk matrix so everyone can see what’s low, medium, high, or extreme.
3. Control Risks Apply the Hierarchy of Controls: ​​
4. Review & Monitor Risk Management is never “done.” Update it after incidents, process changes, or new equipment

​Hierarchy of Controls

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Section 3: Why It’s a Compliance Pillar?
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• Legal: Required under OSHA 1994, DOSH guidelines, ISO 45001.
• Audit-Ready: Demonstrates due diligence.
• People-Centered: Protects workers, contractors, and visitors.
• Business Value: Reduces downtime, claims, and reputational risk.

Compliance is the baseline. Culture and improvement are the multipliers.

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Section 4: Practical Examples
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• Confined Space Entry → Hazard: oxygen deficiency → Control: gas testing, permit-to-work.
• Energy Isolation (LOTO) → Hazard: unexpected energization → Control: lockout devices, verification.
• Working at Height → Hazard: fall → Control: guardrails, harness, fall arrest system.

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Section 5: Tools & Resources

• ✅ Risk Management / HIRARC Procedure
• ✅ HIRARC Template​
• ✅ Coaching prompts for supervisors: “What hazards do you see here?”

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Section 6: Call to Action

“Every safe decision begins with Risk Management. HIRARC is how we live it. What's the next risk you need to assess”

• Pick an area or activity
• Identify hazards associated with the area or work activity
  
• Rate Your Risks
• Apply the Hierarchy of Controls

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Diving Deeper Into Risk Management
(click on the link below to take you to other related pages)

1: Hazard identification (seeing what others miss)
2: Risk assessment (likelihood × severity done right)
3: Risk control (hierarchy in action)