Which sequence best describes how risk assessment is addressed in Week 1?

• A. Identifying hazards, evaluating risk, and defining control measures before tasks.
• B. Defining control measures before tasks, identifying hazards, evaluating risk.
• C. Evaluating risk before identifying hazards, implementing control measures.
• D. Implementing control measures before tasks, evaluating risk, identifying hazards.

Answer: (A)

Risk assessment follows a logical planning flow: first you identify hazards, then you evaluate the risk they pose, and only then do you define and implement the control measures before starting the task. Identifying hazards upfront ensures you know exactly what could cause harm. Once hazards are known, you can assess risk by considering how likely each hazard is to cause harm and how severe the consequences would be. With that understanding, you can choose and put in place control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level before work begins, so safety is embedded in the plan rather than added after problems arise. If you try to set controls before identifying hazards, you might miss important risks; if you assess risk without knowing the hazards, the assessment isn’t grounded; and if you implement controls before planning, you may enforce actions that don’t address the actual risks.