Risk Assessment Training Course

What’s Included

Your course fee includes everything needed for a comprehensive 1-day programme:

• Comprehensive Course Materials — printed handouts (on-site) or digital materials (remote) covering the full curriculum

• CPD-Accredited Certificate — Phoenix STS Risk Assessment Training Certificate valid for 3 years

• Digital Certificate — issued via email within 48–72 hours of course completion

• Practical Workshop — hands-on risk assessment exercises using realistic workplace scenarios

• Risk Assessment Templates — practical templates and checklists you can use immediately in your workplace

• Legislation Reference Pack — key sections of the 2005 Act including Section 19 and the General Principles of Prevention

• Post-Course Email Support — direct access to your instructor for guidance after the course

• Renewal Reminder Service — complimentary notification before your 3-year certificate expires

What You’ll Learn

The course covers five core areas, combining legal knowledge with practical application.

Legal Framework for Risk Assessment

Your obligations under Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, which requires every employer to identify hazards, assess risks, and prepare a written risk assessment. Understanding the General Principles of Prevention (Schedule 3) and how they guide control measure selection.

The HSA Three-Step Process

The Health and Safety Authority’s endorsed approach: Step 1 — Identify the hazards. Step 2 — Assess the risks (likelihood × severity). Step 3 — Implement control measures using the hierarchy of controls.

Hazard Identification Techniques

Systematic methods for identifying workplace hazards including physical inspection, task analysis, accident/incident review, and consultation with employees. Common hazards across different industry sectors.

Risk Evaluation and Control

Using risk rating matrices to evaluate and prioritise risks. The hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Selecting proportionate and effective control measures.

Recording, Communication, and Review

Documenting risk assessments to meet legal requirements. Integrating findings into the safety statement (Section 20). Communicating results to management and staff. Triggers for review and update.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, you will be able to:

• Conduct a systematic risk assessment using the HSA three-step process
• Identify workplace hazards across all industry sectors
• Evaluate risks using likelihood and severity matrices
• Select and implement appropriate control measures using the hierarchy of controls
• Understand your legal obligations under Section 19 of the 2005 Act
• Apply the General Principles of Prevention to control measure selection
• Document risk assessments to meet legal and organisational requirements
• Communicate risk assessment findings effectively to stakeholders

Course Programme

The 7-hour programme balances legislation, theory, and practical exercises.

Morning Session: Legislation and Theory

• Welcome and course introduction
• Introduction to risk assessment: purpose and benefits
• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 — Section 19
• General Principles of Prevention (Schedule 3)
• The HSA three-step risk assessment process
• Step 1: Hazard identification techniques and methods
• Common workplace hazards across different sectors
• Step 2: Risk evaluation — likelihood, severity, and risk matrices

Afternoon Session: Practical Application and Assessment

• Step 3: Control measures and the hierarchy of controls
• Safety statements — integrating risk assessments (Section 20)
• Recording, reviewing, and updating risk assessments
• Communicating findings to management and staff
• Practical workshop: conducting a full risk assessment on realistic scenarios
• Group discussion: applying risk assessment to your workplace
• Assessment and course summary
• Certification information and next steps

Legal Requirements

Risk assessment is a legal requirement under Irish health and safety law:

Section 19 — Risk Assessment

Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires every employer to identify hazards in the workplace, assess the risks presented by those hazards, and prepare a written risk assessment of those risks. This is not optional — it is a specific legal duty.

Section 20 — Safety Statement

Section 20 requires employers to prepare a written safety statement based on the risk assessment carried out under Section 19. The safety statement must specify the hazards identified, the risks assessed, and the protective and preventive measures taken.

General Principles of Prevention

Schedule 3 of the 2005 Act sets out the General Principles of Prevention, which must guide the selection of control measures: avoidance of risks, evaluation of unavoidable risks, combating risks at source, adaptation of work to the individual, and adapting to technical progress.

General Application Regulations 2007

The General Application Regulations 2007 set out specific requirements for risk assessment across areas including manual handling, display screen equipment, work at height, and workplace design.

Assessment and Certification

Assessment includes participation in practical exercises and completion of a risk assessment workshop. Each participant must demonstrate understanding of the three-step process.

• Phoenix STS Risk Assessment Training Certificate — issued upon successful completion, valid for 3 years

• Digital Certificate — issued via email within 48–72 hours of completion

• CPD Certificate — confirming 7 CPD hours (CPD Standards Office, Provider No. 22657)

• Renewal Reminder — complimentary notification before your certificate expires

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 hold memberships with recognised professional bodies:

• IOSH — Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
• IIESMS — Institute of Industrial Engineers and Safety Management Systems
• IIRSM — International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
• L&DI — Learning and Development Institute of Ireland

Available Nationwide Across Ireland

Phoenix STS delivers the Risk Assessment Training Course on-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland, or via live remote sessions through Microsoft Teams.

We have delivered this course to organisations in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Sligo, Dundalk, Longford, and all counties across Ireland. On-site training is available at the same flat rate regardless of your location.

Contact us for a training quotation or call 043 334 9611.

Related Courses and Services

Explore our other health and safety training courses and consultancy services:

• Safety Representative Training Course — 3-day HSA-aligned programme for Section 25 Safety Representatives. CPD certified.
• Manual Handling Course — 3-hour practical course for safe lifting of objects and loads. 3-year certification.
• Fire Warden Training Course — 7-hour CPD-certified programme with practical fire extinguisher training.
• Fire Risk Assessment Service — PAS 79-1:2020 compliant fire risk assessments by NFRAR-registered assessors. PI insured.
• Health & Safety Consultancy — risk assessments, safety statements, audits, and ongoing H&S support.
• Safety Statements — professional preparation and review of workplace safety statements.