What is HIRARC

HIRARC serves as an integrated tool designed to identify, assess, and control hazards and risks within any workplace and its associated activities. Strict adherence to this methodology is crucial, as it effectively eliminates or mitigates the likelihood of accidents.

An acronym for Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control, HIRARC represents a universally adopted approach extensively utilized by Occupational Health and Safety practitioners across various industries.

In accordance with Clause 6.1.2 of ISO 45001, organizations must address three key elements in managing workplace risks to prevent or minimize the occurrence of injuries or illnesses. This involves establishing, implementing, and maintaining processes to effectively manage hazard and risk.

What is HIRARC

In the context of Malaysia, the implementation of HIRARC aligns with the latest occupational safety and health (OSH) laws, particularly Section 18b of the OSH (Amendment) Act 2022.

According to Section 18b, there is a specific duty imposed on organizations to conduct risk assessments in the workplace. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in offenses under the OSH law. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is entrusted with enforcing these regulations, and non-compliance may lead to penalties or legal actions.

Adhering to HIRARC not only helps organizations fulfill their legal obligations but also contributes to creating a safer and healthier work environment. It empowers businesses to anticipate and address potential risks, thereby safeguarding the well-being of employees and ensuring compliance with the evolving OSH regulations in Malaysia. Organizations are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of Section 18b and actively incorporate HIRARC into their safety protocols to avoid legal repercussions and, more importantly, to prioritize the health and safety of their workforce.

The steps and sequence for managing hazard risks are outlined below.

Step 1: Define Process (Activity) Sequence or Job List:

• Identify the main activities involved in the workplace.
• List down sub-processes, including routine, non-routine, and unexpected events such as emergencies, breakdowns, and incidents.

Step 2: Hazard Identification:

• Select the first sub-process.
• See details of hazard HERE
• Identify hazards by choosing from a drop-down list.
• Narrow down the selection to specify the hazard, noting any additional hazards not in the list.
• Reevaluate the process for potential new hazards.
• Repeat the identification process until all sub-processes are evaluated.

Step 3: HIRARC Evaluation:

• Click the HIRARC button to initiate the evaluation process.

Step 4: Determine Potential Consequences:

• From identified hazards, assess potential consequences based on the nature of the hazard.
• Consider the degree of existing control and involve knowledgeable personnel in correlating risk control with consequences.

Step 5: Confirm Existing Risk Controls:

• Observe, review documented information, and get feedback from process owners to confirm existing risk controls.
• Categorize existing controls into substitution, isolation, engineering control, administrative control, and personal protective equipment.

Step 6: Likelihood and Severity Assessment:

• Utilize a rating scale from 1 to 5 for both likelihood and severity.
• Justify likelihood based on track records, incident records, JKKP website, media, and other reputable sources
• Justify severity based on the potential magnitude of incidents.
• Ensure severity aligns with identified potential effects (e.g., fatality corresponds to a severity rating not below 4).

Step 7: Applicable Laws:

• Select applicable laws based on the activities being assessed.

Step 8: Refer to Risk Matrix:

• Refer to the risk matrix to determine the need for improvement.

Step 9:Identify Areas for Improvement:

• Evaluate weaknesses in likelihood and severity.
• Prioritize improvements targeting high-risk areas.
• State priority numbers for improvement programs based on importance and criticality.

Step 10: Focus on Preventive Approaches:

• Prioritize new programs focusing on preventive measures such as elimination, substitution, isolation, and engineering controls.
• Key information for conducting risk assessments and adhering to principles of risk reduction.
• Avoid low-impact programs like training, briefings, PPE, or penalties.

Step 11: Conduct Re-Evaluation:

• Re-evaluate the risk ratings based on proposed improvement ideas.
• Estimate how the risk rating can be reduced and ensure that the proposed improvements are effective in mitigating risks.

Step 12: Examining the Output

• Determine the Significance Risk Register.
• Review graphical analysis and trends for management monitoring.
• Document improvement programs, responsible persons, and deadlines.
• Maintain records for analysis and future reference.
• Regularly monitor and update the risk assessment.
• Adjust control measures based on changes in processes or workplace conditions.
• Prepare the input for annual review.

Practically, HIRARC process that includes ALL of the following activities;

1. Identification and classification of all health hazards, including the assessment of acceptability levels (e.g., significant, insignificant, or uncertain health hazards).
2. Quantitative risk assessment for all uncertain hazards.
3. Implementation of suitable countermeasures to control unacceptable health risks, such as the utilization of personal protective equipment, engineering controls, product substitution, etc.
4. Conducting annual reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of the entire process.

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Tailored HIRARC for Occupational Health and Safety Practitioners

The HIRARC format has been designed to meet the needs of Occupational Health and Safety Practitioners in executing their duties related to efficient risk management. This tool is in accordance with the ISO 45001 standard and adheres to Malaysian OSHA Laws, seamlessly incorporating risk factors and addressing the mitigation of hazard-risk aspects. Despite its application to the Malaysian working environment, its universality extends globally within the broader context of work environments.

• Work environment
• Energy
• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Biological
• Environment
• Animal / insects
• Major disaster
• Radiation, &
• Other hazards

For a comprehensive overview of hazard identification details, please refer to this link.

There is also support available for users to facilitate their selection of risk control measures in the workplace through a drop-down button, which must be chosen using the E-S-I-E-A-P method. The E-S-I-E-A-P approach involves prioritizing action sequences through Elimination (E), Substitution (S), Isolation (I), Engineering control (E), Administration (A), and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Why E-HIRARC

e-HIRARC is not just a tool; it's a comprehensive solution designed to elevate organization's safety standards. By visualizing risk assessments, offering dynamic input options, minimizing manual processes, and providing a robust database for analysis, e-HIRARC sets a new standard for smart risk management tools.

1. Dynamic Functionality with Smart Inputs:

Experience the convenience of a dynamic format with multifunctional input options. E-HIRARC system offers auto-insert data features, dropdown lists, and multi-selection options, streamlining the data entry process. With auto-generated outputs, user can instantly visualize the impact of risk mitigation strategies, saving time and ensuring accuracy in the process of assessments.

See HERE how it works.

2. Visual Representation in Attractive Risk Assessment Output:

e-HIRARC stands out by presenting the risk assessment and evaluation process in an easily digestible format. Through captivating pie charts and graphs, it provides a visual representation that simplifies complex data, allowing stakeholders to quickly grasp potential hazards and risks. This not only facilitates better decision-making but also enhances communication across different levels of the organization.

See HERE how it works.

3. Streamlining Processes with Less Manual Intervention:

Bid farewell to cumbersome manual processes with e-HIRARC. By automating various aspects of risk assessment and evaluation, the system significantly reduces the need for manual intervention. This not only enhances the efficiency of your safety protocols but also frees up valuable resources that can be redirected towards other critical tasks.

4. Comprehensive Database for Hazard and Risk Performance Monitoring:

e-HIRARC goes beyond risk assessment by providing a centralized database for hazard and risk performance monitoring and analysis. This repository empowers organizations to track trends, identify recurring issues, and make informed decisions based on historical data. The result is a proactive approach to risk management, ensuring continuous improvement in safety protocols.

5. Interactive Features in Harmony with OSHA Laws:

It is important to comply with regulatory standards. The interactive features have been meticulously designed to align with the latest amendments to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) laws. This ensures that risk management practices not only meet but exceed the mandated requirements, keeping the workplace not just safe but also legally sound.

See HERE how it works.

6. Macro Insights for Proactive Risk Mitigation:

Taking a step back to gain a macro view of workplace risk management process is crucial. e-HIRARC provides this panoramic perspective, shedding light on the entire process. Identified hazards are not just documented; they are highlighted, empowering your team to take swift and informed actions for a safer work environment.

See HERE how it works.

7. Management-Driven Good Practices in OSH:

e-HIRARC isn't just a tool; it's a catalyst for good OSH management practices. Provide valuable inputs for management review and witness the power of graphical analysis results. Equip top management with the insights needed for strategic decision-making and the cultivation of a robust safety culture.

e-HIRARC Tutorial

The accompanying video clip elucidates how the HIRARC template can demonstrate superior effectiveness compared to your current practices.

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