The Risk Assessment Training Course from Phoenix STS equips you with the practical skills and legal knowledge to conduct effective workplace risk assessments. This comprehensive programme provides both theoretical understanding and hands-on practice in hazard identification, risk evaluation, and the implementation of control measures in compliance with Irish health and safety legislation.
Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places a legal duty on employers to identify hazards and assess workplace risks. This practical one-day course ensures you understand your obligations and have the competence to conduct thorough risk assessments that protect employees, visitors, and others affected by your work activities.
Course at a Glance
- Duration: 1 day (7 hours)
- Class Size: Maximum 20 learners
- Certification: 3 years validity
- Delivery: On-site across Ireland
- Assessment: Practical workshops
- Materials: Full course handouts
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Risk Assessment Training Course Overview
Risk assessment is the foundation of effective workplace safety management. By systematically identifying hazards and evaluating the likelihood and severity of potential harm, organisations can implement appropriate control measures before incidents occur. This proactive approach is not just good practice; it’s a legal requirement under Irish law.
The Risk Assessment Training Course combines legislative knowledge with practical application. You’ll learn the three-step risk assessment process endorsed by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), understand the General Principles of Prevention, and practice conducting risk assessments using realistic workplace scenarios.
By the end of the course, you’ll be confident in your ability to identify workplace hazards, evaluate risks systematically, select appropriate control measures, and document your findings in a format that supports your organisation’s Safety Statement.
Why This Risk Assessment Training Course Matters
Every year, thousands of workplace injuries and illnesses occur in Ireland. Many of these incidents are preventable through proper hazard identification and risk control. The Risk Assessment Training Course gives you the skills to identify and manage these risks before incidents occur. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places clear duties on employers to protect their employees, and risk assessment is the mechanism for identifying what protection is needed.
Legal Requirement: Section 19 of the SHWW Act 2005 requires every employer to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement control measures. The risk assessment must be documented and reviewed whenever there are significant changes or when there is reason to believe it is no longer valid.
Beyond legal compliance, effective risk assessment delivers real benefits:
- Prevents injuries and work-related ill health
- Reduces business disruption from incidents
- Lowers insurance costs and avoids HSA enforcement action
- Demonstrates due diligence and protects against prosecution
- Creates a positive safety culture where employees feel valued
Legal Framework
This course covers the key Irish legislation that governs workplace risk assessment:
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
- Section 19: Hazard identification and risk assessment requirements
- Section 20: Safety Statement obligations based on risk assessment findings
- Schedule 3: The nine General Principles of Prevention
- Section 8: General duties of employers
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007–2020
These regulations contain specific risk assessment requirements for various workplace hazards, including:
- Manual handling of loads
- Display screen equipment
- Work at height
- Noise and vibration exposure
- Personal protective equipment selection
- Protection of pregnant employees and young persons
Who Should Attend This Risk Assessment Training Cours
This course is designed for anyone involved in workplace safety management or those seeking to develop competence in risk assessment:
- Health and Safety Officers and Managers
- Safety Representatives
- Line Managers and Supervisors
- Facilities Managers
- HR Professionals with safety responsibilities
- Business owners and directors
- Anyone designated as a “competent person” under Section 18 of the SHWW Act
- Employees preparing Safety Statements
The course is suitable for all industry sectors. Our instructors tailor examples and discussions to reflect participants’ workplace contexts.
The Risk Assessment Process
The HSA recommends a straightforward three-step approach to risk assessment. This course teaches you to apply each step systematically:
Identify the Hazards
Walk through your workplace and examine work activities to identify potential hazards. Consider materials, equipment, work methods, the physical environment, and human factors. Look at accident records, consult employees, and review manufacturer guidance.
Assess the Risks
For each hazard, evaluate the likelihood that harm will occur and the potential severity. Consider who might be harmed and how. This helps you prioritise which risks need the most urgent attention and what level of control is appropriate.
Put Control Measures in Place
Apply the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or reduce risks. Document your control measures, assign responsibility for implementation, and set review dates. Your risk assessment forms the basis for your Safety Statement.
General Principles of Prevention
Schedule 3 of the SHWW Act 2005 sets out nine General Principles of Prevention. These form a hierarchy of controls that guide your selection of appropriate risk control measures:
- Avoidance of Risks: Eliminate the hazard entirely where possible.
- Evaluation of Unavoidable Risks: Assess risks that cannot be eliminated.
- Combating Risks at Source: Address hazards at their origin, not downstream.
- Adapting Work to the Individual: Design workplaces and systems to suit people.
- Adapting to Technical Progress: Use improved equipment and methods as they become available.
- Replacing the Dangerous: Substitute hazardous substances or processes with safer alternatives.
- Developing Prevention Policy: Create a coherent approach covering technology, organisation, and working conditions.
- Collective Over Individual Protection: Prioritise measures that protect everyone over individual PPE.
- Instruction to Employees: Provide appropriate information and training.
Key Principle: Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be a last resort, not a first response. The hierarchy requires you to eliminate or reduce risks through other means before relying on PPE.
What You’ll Learn on the Risk Assessment Training Course
Health and Safety Legislation
- Overview of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
- Section 19 risk assessment requirements
- Section 20 Safety Statement obligations
- General Application Regulations 2007–2020
- Duties of employers, employees, and others
Hazard Identification
- Types of workplace hazards: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychosocial
- Systematic hazard identification techniques
- Using accident and incident data
- Consulting employees and safety representatives
- Manufacturer and supplier information
Risk Evaluation
- Understanding likelihood and severity
- Risk rating methodologies
- Identifying who is at risk and how
- Vulnerable groups: young workers, pregnant employees, contractors
- Prioritising risks for action
Control Measures
- The nine General Principles of Prevention
- Hierarchy of controls in practice
- Engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE
- Selecting appropriate control measures
- Monitoring and reviewing effectiveness
Documentation and Review
- Recording risk assessments
- Linking risk assessments to the Safety Statement
- When to review and update assessments
- Communicating findings to employees
- Using the HSA’s BeSMART tool
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the Risk Assessment Training Course, you will be able to:
- Explain the legal requirements for risk assessment under Irish legislation
- Identify workplace hazards using systematic techniques
- Evaluate risks by assessing likelihood and severity
- Apply the General Principles of Prevention to select appropriate control measures
- Document risk assessments in a clear, usable format
- Understand how risk assessments inform the Safety Statement
- Recognise when risk assessments should be reviewed
- Communicate risk assessment findings to employees and management
Benefits of the Risk Assessment Training Course
For Individuals
- Gain a recognised professional qualification
- Develop practical skills applicable across industries
- Understand your legal responsibilities
- Enhance your career prospects in health and safety
- Build internal competence through the Risk Assessment Training Course
For Organisations
- Ensure compliance with Section 19 of the SHWW Act
- Reduce workplace injuries and associated costs
- Build internal competence in risk assessment
- Demonstrate due diligence to regulators and insurers
- Support a positive safety culture
Risk Assessment Training Course Details
Delivery Options
This course is available in two formats, both led by our experienced instructors:
| On-Site Training | Remote Instructor-Led Training |
|---|---|
| We deliver training at your premises anywhere in Ireland. On-site delivery allows the course to be tailored to your specific workplace, with examples and discussions relevant to your actual hazards and work activities. | Join our live virtual classroom via Microsoft Teams. This interactive format delivers the same comprehensive content with real-time instructor engagement, group discussions, and practical exercises, ideal for dispersed teams or when on-site training isn’t practical. |
Prerequisites
- English language proficiency: Ability to understand, speak, read, and write in English
- No prior qualifications required: This course is suitable for beginners and those seeking to refresh their knowledge
Training Methods
- Interactive presentations covering legislation and methodology
- Group discussions and case studies
- Practical workshops for conducting risk assessments on workplace scenarios
- Q&A sessions with experienced instructors
- Full-colour printed course materials for future reference
Assessment
- Practical participation in workshop exercises
- Completion of scenario-based risk assessments
- Continuous assessment throughout the training day
Certification
Upon successful completion of the Risk Assessment Training Course, participants receive:
- Phoenix STS Risk Assessment Training Certificate: Valid for 3 years
- Digital certificate: Issued via email within 48–72 hours of course completion
Refresher Training: We recommend refresher training every 3 years to maintain competence and stay current with legislative changes. Phoenix STS offers a complimentary reminder service to notify you before your certification expires.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7 hours (1 day) |
| Maximum Participants | 20 learners |
| Certificate Validity | 3 years |
| Delivery Options | On-site at your premises or remote instructor-led |
| Assessment | Workshops and scenario exercises |
Our Instructors
All Phoenix STS instructors hold a minimum QQI Level 8 qualification in their subject matter and a Train the Trainer qualification at QQI Level 6 or higher. They bring extensive practical experience in health and safety across multiple industries.
Our instructors are members of professional bodies, including:
- IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health)
- IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management)
- IIESMS (Irish Institute of Emergency and Safety Management Services)
Risk Assessment Training Course FAQs
Yes. Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers and those who control workplaces to identify hazards, assess the risks they present, and implement control measures. Risk assessments must be documented and serve as the basis for your Safety Statement.
The employer is ultimately responsible, but risk assessments can be conducted by a competent person within the organisation or an external consultant. Section 18 of the SHWW Act 2005 requires employers to appoint competent persons for health and safety matters. This course develops that competence.
The SHWW Act 2005 requires risk assessments to be reviewed if there are significant changes to the matters they relate to, or if there is reason to believe they are no longer valid. In practice, annual reviews are recommended, with immediate reviews after any incident, change in work activity, or introduction of new equipment.
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm, such as chemicals, machinery, or work methods. A risk is the likelihood that harm will occur from the hazard, combined with the severity of that harm. Risk assessment involves identifying hazards and then evaluating the associated risks.
These are nine principles set out in Schedule 3 of the SHWW Act 2005 that form a hierarchy of controls. They range from eliminating risks entirely to providing PPE as a last resort, through substitution and engineering controls. The course covers these principles in detail.
Section 20 of the SHWW Act 2005 requires employers to prepare a written Safety Statement based on their risk assessments. The Safety Statement must specify how safety, health, and welfare will be managed, incorporating the findings and control measures from your risk assessments.
The course is available in two formats: on-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland, or as a remote instructor-led session via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Both formats deliver the same curriculum, interactive exercises, and certification. Remote delivery is ideal for dispersed teams or organisations where on-site training isn’t practical.
All instructors hold a minimum QQI Level 8 qualification in their subject area and QQI Level 6 or higher Train-the-Trainer certification. They are members of professional bodies including IOSH, IIRSM, and IIESMS, with extensive practical experience in health and safety across multiple sectors.
Yes. Risk assessment principles apply across all workplaces. The course covers the fundamental methodology and legal framework, with instructors tailoring examples and discussions to the sectors represented by participants. Whether you work in offices, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, or construction, the skills are transferable.
BeSMART is a free online tool from the Health and Safety Authority that guides small businesses through the risk assessment process. The course introduces this tool and explains how it can support your ongoing risk assessment activities
Related Services
- Safety Awareness Training Course — General health and safety awareness for all employees
- Safety Representative Training Course — Training for designated safety representatives
- Safety Managers Training Course — Comprehensive training for managers with safety responsibilities
- Health & Safety Risk Assessments — Consultancy service for professional risk assessment
- Safety Statements — Expert preparation of Safety Statements
Page last updated: January 2026
