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WHS Resource 02
Risk Management
& Safe Design
& Safe Design
Strengthen project-specific risk decisions, safe-design integration and the evidence behind your controls.
Accreditation readiness
Risk management in practice
Strong risk systems connect design decisions to work on site.
A risk matrix or safe-design report is not enough on its own. Stronger systems use a defined builder-specific HIRAC method, reflect the actual project, address buildability risks and show that controls are implemented, communicated and reviewed.
Systematic
A defined builder-specific HIRAC method sets how risks are identified, assessed and controlled.
Project-specific
Assessments reflect the actual scope, site conditions, design and changes.
Design-integrated
Buildability and residual design risks flow into project and task controls.
Connected
Controls are communicated to the workers who carry out the work.
Reviewed
Changes are assessed before work proceeds and controls are checked in the field.
05
What stronger practice looks like
Five areas that make risk and safe-design decisions more traceable.
Follow the path from method to field verification. Select a step or use the buttons to move through each area.
01
Area 1 of 5
What stronger practice looks like
Builder-specific HIRAC
The methodology defines how hazards are identified, assessed, controlled and reviewed, including responsibilities and risk thresholds.
02
Area 2 of 5
What stronger practice looks like
Project-specific assessment
Project HIRAC reflects the actual scope, site conditions, stakeholders, design and changes rather than relying on a generic register.
03
Area 3 of 5
What stronger practice looks like
Higher-order controls
Elimination and higher-order controls are considered first, with defined escalation where risk remains above the acceptable level.
04
Area 4 of 5
What stronger practice looks like
Safe-design integration
Buildability hazards and residual design risks are deliberately transferred into project HIRAC, task planning and site controls.
05
Area 5 of 5
What stronger practice looks like
Change and verification
Design and site changes are assessed before work proceeds, communicated to affected workers and checked for effectiveness in the field.
Inside the workbook
Seven practical tools. One connected evidence chain.
Use the tools in sequence or move directly to the areas where your business needs stronger evidence.
01
Risk Management & Safe Design Readiness Check
02
Project HIRAC Pathway
03
Safe Design Risk Review
04
Design Change & Residual Risk Handover
05
Accreditation Evidence Map
06
Auditor Lens & Common Gaps
07
30 / 60 / 90-Day Action Plan
Accreditation readiness
Evidence should connect expectation, decision, implementation and review.
Start with the systems and records you already have. Trace significant hazards from identification and design decisions through project and task controls, worker communication, field verification and review.
This resource supports OFSC accreditation readiness. It does not replace State or Territory WHS/OHS legislation and does not guarantee accreditation.
Practical resource
Ready to strengthen risk management and safe design?
Download the WHS Risk Management & Safe Design Accreditation Readiness Workbook and use the readiness check, practical tools and action plan to focus your next steps.
Download here
→