Below is a complete Risk & Risk Assessment interview Q&A set based on your notes, with clearer definitions and additional questions commonly asked in safety interviews.
1. What is a hazard?
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm, such as injury, illness, property damage, environmental damage, or loss. Examples include electricity, chemicals, working at height, noise, moving machinery, and confined spaces.
2. What is risk?
Risk is the combination of the likelihood or probability that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm.
Risk = Likelihood × Severity
3. What is the difference between hazard and risk?
| Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|
| A potential source of harm | The chance and severity of harm from that hazard |
| Example: Open electrical panel | Risk: The worker may receive an electric shock. |
| Example: Chemical container | Risk: The worker may suffer burns or inhalation injury. |
| Can exist without exposure | Depends on exposure and control measures |
4. What is risk exposure?
Risk exposure means the extent to which a person is exposed to a hazard. It depends on how often, how long, and how closely a worker comes into contact with the hazard.
5. What is residual risk?
Residual risk is the risk that remains after control measures have been applied. The aim is to reduce residual risk to an acceptable level, not necessarily to zero.
6. What is acceptable risk?
Acceptable risk is the level of risk that has been reduced as low as reasonably practicable and is accepted by the organization, regulatory requirements, and affected workers.
7. What is risk assessment?
Risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, deciding who may be harmed, and selecting suitable control measures before starting a job.
8. Why is risk assessment important?
Prevents accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
Identifies hazards before work starts.
Helps prioritize the most serious risks.
Ensures legal compliance.
Improves planning, communication, and safety culture.
Reduces downtime, damage, and costs.
9. What are the five steps of risk assessment?
The five basic steps are
- Identify hazards
- Identify who may be harmed and how
- Evaluate risks and select controls
- Record findings and implement controls
- Review and update the assessment
10. What should be included in a risk assessment document?
A risk assessment should include:
- Job or activity name
- Location and date
- Team members involved
- Task sequence or job steps
- Hazards for each step
- People at risk
- Existing controls
- Risk rating before controls
- Additional controls required
- Residual risk rating
- PPE requirements
- Responsible person and target date
- Emergency arrangements
- Review date and approvals
11. Who should carry out a risk assessment?
A competent person or team should carry out the assessment. The team should include the supervisor, safety officer, and workers who are familiar with the job, because they understand the actual hazards and work methods.
12. When should a risk assessment be reviewed?
A risk assessment should be reviewed:
- Before starting a new job or process
- After an accident, incident, or near miss
- After changes in equipment, materials, personnel, or work method
- After new legal requirements
- At regular planned intervals
- When controls are found ineffective.
13. What is the difference between risk assessment and JSA/JHA?
| Risk Assessment | JSA / JHA |
|---|---|
| Broad assessment of workplace, process, or activity | Detailed analysis of a specific job |
| Identifies hazards, risks, and controls | Breaks a job into steps and analyzes each step |
| May cover multiple tasks and locations | Usually task-specific |
| Used for planning and legal compliance | Used for safe execution of a job |
A JHA is a type of task-level risk assessment.
14. What is a risk matrix?
A risk matrix is a tool used to rate risk by comparing likelihood and severity. It helps prioritize hazards and decide which risks need immediate action.
| Likelihood / Severity | Minor injury | Serious injury | Fatality/major loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlikely | Low | Medium | High |
| Possible | Medium | High | Very high |
| Likely | High | Very high | Very high |
15. How do you calculate risk rating?
Risk rating is calculated as:
Risk Rating = Likelihood × Severity
For example, if likelihood is 3 and severity is 4, then risk rating is 12. The rating is then compared with the company’s risk matrix to decide whether the risk is low, medium, high, or unacceptable.
16. How can risks be controlled?
Risks can be controlled by following the hierarchy of controls:
- Elimination—Remove the hazard completely.
- Substitution—Replace it with something less hazardous.
- Engineering controls—Isolate people from the hazard.
- Administrative controls—Use procedures, training, permits, and supervision.
- PPE—Provide personal protection as the last line of defense.
17. What is the hierarchy of controls?
The hierarchy of controls ranks control measures from most effective to least effective:
- Elimination
- Substitution
- Engineering controls
- Administrative controls
- PPE
18. Give examples of each level of the hierarchy of controls.
| Control | Example |
|---|---|
| Elimination | Remove work at height by lowering equipment to ground level. |
| Substitution | Replace a hazardous solvent with a safer one. |
| Engineering control | Install a machine guard, local exhaust ventilation, or interlock. |
| Administrative control | Permit-to-work, training, job rotation, signage, supervision |
| PPE | Helmet, goggles, gloves, respirator, safety harness |
19. Why is PPE the last control?
PPE does not remove the hazard; it only protects the individual worker if it is correctly selected, worn, and maintained. Therefore, it is used after higher-level controls. osha+1
20. What are engineering controls?
Engineering controls are physical changes that isolate workers from hazards. Examples include machine guards, enclosures, ventilation systems, barriers, interlocks, and soundproofing.
21. What are administrative controls?
Administrative controls are work procedures and management measures that reduce exposure. Examples include safe work procedures, training, permits, job rotation, warning signs, supervision, and limiting exposure time.
22. What are the six principles of prevention?
- Avoid risks where possible.
- Substitute dangerous substances, processes, or equipment with less dangerous ones.
- Control risks at the source.
- Give priority to collective protective measures over individual measures.
- Adapt work to technical progress.
- Continuously improve protection levels.
23. What does “so far as reasonably practicable” mean?
It means that a risk must be reduced unless the cost, time, effort, or inconvenience of further control is grossly disproportionate to the risk reduction gained. The balance considers:
- Time
- Money
- Effort
- Inconvenience
- Severity and likelihood of harm
24. What is a permit-to-work?
A permit-to-work is a formal written system used to control high-risk activities. It ensures that hazards are identified, precautions are agreed, responsibilities are assigned, and work is authorized before it starts.
Examples include hot-work, confined-space, electrical, excavation, and work-at-height permits.
Risk Assessment Benefits
25. What are the benefits of risk assessment?
- Meets legal requirements.
- Protects workers, contractors, visitors, and the public.
- Identifies whether existing controls are adequate.
- Helps prioritize corrective actions.
- Reduces accidents, downtime, and costs.
- Improves safety culture and communication.
- Improves company reputation and business performance.
26. What are the consequences of not doing a risk assessment?
- Accidents and injuries
- Legal penalties and prosecution
- Production losses and downtime
- Higher insurance costs
- Damage to reputation
- Low worker morale
- Increased compensation and medical costs
27. What is dynamic risk assessment?
Dynamic risk assessment is the continuous assessment of risks while work is being performed, especially when conditions change. It helps workers stop work or adjust controls when an unexpected hazard appears.
28. What is a task risk assessment?
A task risk assessment is a detailed assessment for a specific task, such as vessel entry, hot work, lifting operation, electrical isolation, or working at height. It identifies hazards in each step and defines controls.
29. What is a baseline risk assessment?
A baseline risk assessment is an initial assessment of the overall workplace, processes, equipment, and activities to identify major hazards and establish the organization’s risk profile.
30. What is an issue-based risk assessment?
An issue-based risk assessment is carried out when a specific concern arises, such as a new machine, chemical, process, incident, legal change, or planned modification.
31. What is a continuous risk assessment?
Continuous risk assessment is the ongoing observation of hazards during daily work. Workers and supervisors identify changing conditions and take immediate action when needed.
Practical Questions
32. How would you conduct a risk assessment for working at height?
- Identify hazards: fall from height, falling objects, unstable platform, weather, electrical contact.
- Identify workers at risk: workers on the platform, people below, and passers-by.
- Evaluate likelihood and severity.
- Apply controls: avoid height work if possible, use scaffolding or MEWP, install guardrails, use a full-body harness with an anchor point, barricade the area below, and inspect equipment.
- Provide training and rescue arrangements.
- Review the assessment before work starts.
33. How would you assess risk for confined-space entry?
- Identify hazards: oxygen deficiency, toxic gas, flammable atmosphere, engulfment, heat, restricted exit.
- Identify entrants, attendants, and rescuers at risk.
- Test the atmosphere before entry and continuously monitor it.
- Obtain a confined-space entry permit.
- Isolate energy sources and materials.
- Provide ventilation, communication, lighting, PPE, and rescue equipment.
- Assign an attendant outside the space.
- Review the assessment and emergency plan.
34. What should you do if risk is high even after controls?
Stop the work, inform the supervisor or safety officer, revise the risk assessment, apply stronger controls, and restart only when the residual risk is acceptable.
35. What is the first action if an uncontrolled hazard is found?
Stop the activity if there is immediate danger, isolate the area if necessary, inform the supervisor or safety officer, and apply interim controls until a permanent solution is implemented.
36. What is risk communication?
Risk communication is sharing risk-assessment findings with workers, supervisors, and contractors so that everyone understands the hazards, controls, emergency procedures, and their responsibilities.
37. Who should sign a risk assessment?
Normally, the person who prepared it, the area supervisor, safety officer, and responsible manager should sign it. Workers performing the job should also acknowledge that they understand the hazards and controls.
38. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative risk assessment?
| Type | Method | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Qualitative | Uses descriptions such as low, medium, high | Risk matrix |
| Quantitative | Uses numerical values and calculations | Likelihood score × severity score |
39. What is risk prioritization?
Risk prioritization means ranking hazards so that the highest risks are controlled first. It is based on severity, likelihood, number of people exposed, and potential consequences.
40. What is the most important rule in risk assessment?
Never start work until hazards are identified, risks are assessed, controls are implemented, and workers understand them.
Quick One-Line Answers
What is risk? The likelihood and severity of harm from a hazard.
What is risk assessment? A systematic process to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and select controls.
What is the first step? Identify hazards.
What is the best control? Elimination.
What is the last control? PPE.
Who should be involved? Competent persons, supervisors, and workers familiar with the job.
When should it be reviewed? After changes, incidents, or at regular intervals.
What is residual risk? Risk remaining after controls are applied.
What is ALARP? As low as reasonably practicable.
What is the aim of risk assessment? To reduce risk to an acceptable level before work begins.
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