Spotting hazards, rating risk and choosing controls
Tell a hazard from a risk, take part in a risk assessment and a workplace inspection, use a simple likelihood-and-severity matrix to prioritize, and choose controls using the hierarchy of controls. Based on HSE's steps for managing risk, OSHA's hazard identification practices and NIOSH's hierarchy of controls.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Length
- About 50 minutes
- Contents
- 3 lessons · 1 video · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 1 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Distinguish a hazard from a risk and describe who might be harmed and how
- Follow HSE's five steps for managing risk and say what records are expected
- Rate and rank risks with a site matrix and explain why the highest risks are addressed first
- Choose and rank controls using the hierarchy of controls (elimination to PPE)
- Take part in a workplace inspection and record findings so they can be verified as corrected
Course outline
- 1.Spotting hazards, rating risk and choosing controlsVideo · 2 min
- 2.Hazards, risks and the five stepsLesson · 17 min
- 3.Rating and ranking riskLesson · 16 min
- 4.Choosing controls and inspectingLesson · 17 min
- 5.Spotting hazards, rating risk and choosing controls: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 16 questions
- 6.Spotting hazards, rating risk and choosing controls: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 7.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- HSE: Steps needed to manage risk (UK)
- OSHA Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs: Hazard identification and assessment
- NIOSH: Hierarchy of Controls
- Your employer's safety procedures, risk assessments and site rules (these govern)
See it with your own jobs and topics
Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.