NEBOSH HSE Award in Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work
The NEBOSH HSE Award in Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work provides a practical introduction to workplace risk assessment. Developed with the HSE, it helps those involved in managing risk understand how to identify hazards, assess risk, and apply sensible, proportionate controls in real working environments.
Description
The NEBOSH HSE Award in Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work is an introductory qualification designed for people who carry out, contribute to, or review workplace risk assessments as part of their role. Developed by NEBOSH in collaboration with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the course reflects current HSE guidance and good practice.
The course focuses on the step-by-step process of managing risk, starting with why organisations must control health and safety risks and how to prioritise those with the greatest potential for harm. Learners develop a clear understanding of key risk assessment terminology and explore when risk assessments are required, why they must be reviewed, and what makes them suitable and sufficient.
A significant part of the course is dedicated to identifying hazards, assessing risk, and selecting proportionate control measures. Learners explore the hierarchy of control, the importance of worker consultation, and the benefits and limitations of model risk assessments.
The course also covers special risk assessment scenarios, including young persons, lone working, and dynamic risk assessments, helping learners recognise when additional considerations are required.
The day concludes with a practical assessment, where learners complete a structured risk assessment exercise based on a realistic workplace scenario, applying their learning in a practical and meaningful way.
Qualification Breakdown
Element 1: Why Manage Health and Safety Risks
Explores moral, legal and business reasons for risk management, understanding and prioritising risk, when risk assessments are required, competency, consultation, and common errors.
Element 2: Managing Risk – Identification, Assessment and Control
Covers hazard identification, risk assessment decision-making, risk control principles, recording findings, communication, review, and what makes a risk assessment suitable and sufficient.
Element 3: Applying Risk Assessment in Practice
Focuses on special risk assessment cases, dynamic risk assessments, tools and sources of information, prevention versus mitigation, and multiple independent barriers.
Assessment
The method of assessment is a 4-part practical journey:
Part 1 – Risk Control Selection
You select proportionate control measures from a pre-populated list, set realistic timescales, and identify a suitable review date.
Part 2 – Priority Actions
You identify the top three priority actions and justify them based on risk reduction, practicality, relevance, and cost.
Part 3 – Managing the Risk Assessment
You explain what should happen to the risk assessment once it has been completed and signed off.
Part 4 – Reviewing Risk Assessments
You identify when and why a risk assessment should be reviewed.
Assessment is internally marked, externally moderated by NEBOSH, and graded Pass or Refer, with results typically issued within 24 working days.