WHAT IS HIRARC ?

What does HIRARC mean ?

HIRARC stands for Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control, which represent a sequence of three consecutive activities aimed at ensuring safety and minimizing potential harm in various settings.

These activities entail:

• Hazard Identification: This involves recognizing elements or situations that could potentially cause injury or harm to individuals.

• Risk Assessment: This stage entails evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm occurring if individuals are exposed to identified hazards.

• Risk Control: Here, measures are introduced to either eliminate or reduce the risk of individuals being exposed to identified hazards.

Planning and Execution of HIRARC

The planning and execution of HIRARC activities involve:

Conducting HIRARC when hazards pose a significant threat, when there's uncertainty about the adequacy of existing controls, or before implementing corrective or preventive measures.

Assigning trained personnel to lead teams responsible for conducting HIRARC, with the aim of continually improving the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System within an organization.

Process of HIRARC

The HIRARC process encompasses four simple steps:

• Classifying work activities.

• Identifying hazards.

• Conducting risk assessment by analyzing and estimating the likelihood and severity of each hazard.

• Deciding if the risk is acceptable and implementing control measures if necessary.

Documentation of HIRARC

It's essential to properly document HIRARC activities to manage hazards effectively in the workplace. The responsible individual or team must communicate identified hazards to the appropriate workplace authority and complete the HIRARC form, which should then be signed by the relevant personnel. Departments handling hazards must maintain assessment records for at least three years.

HIRARC has become integral to planning, managing, and operating businesses as a key aspect of risk management. Recognized as a proactive approach to managing hazards and risks in daily operations or activities, it is mandated by regulatory requirements such as those outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Acts of 1994 (OSHA) by the Government of Malaysia.

HIRARC training equips participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop HIRARC for workplace activities. This training also ensures compliance with Malaysia's Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law.