Risk Assessment Interview Questions and Answers
Risk assessment is a core skill for safety professionals. It identifies hazards, evaluates risks, and determines control measures to protect workers and comply with legal requirements.
This guide covers 50 Risk Assessment Interview Questions and Answers divided into short answer, long answer, and scenario-based questions.
🔹 Section 1: Short Answer Questions (15 Examples)
Q1. What is a risk assessment?
A systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing controls.
Q2. Why is risk assessment important?
It prevents incidents, protects employees, and ensures legal compliance.
Q3. Name the five steps of risk assessment.
Identify hazards, decide who may be harmed and how, evaluate risks, record findings, review and update.
Q4. What is a hazard?
Something with the potential to cause harm.
Q5. What is a risk?
The likelihood and severity of harm occurring.
Q6. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative risk assessments?
Qualitative uses descriptive categories; quantitative uses numerical scoring.
Q7. What is a dynamic risk assessment?
An on-the-spot assessment of changing risks during work.
Q8. What is a task-based risk assessment?
An assessment focusing on the hazards of a specific task or activity.
Q9. What is the hierarchy of controls?
Eliminate, substitute, engineering, administrative, PPE.
Q10. Who should carry out risk assessments?
A competent person with relevant knowledge and experience.
Q11. How often should risk assessments be reviewed?
Regularly or when significant changes occur.
Q12. What is the difference between hazard identification and risk assessment?
Hazard identification finds what can harm; risk assessment evaluates the chance and severity.
Q13. What is residual risk?
Risk remaining after control measures are implemented.
Q14. Why is worker involvement important?
It improves accuracy and acceptance of control measures.
Q15. What is a risk matrix?
A tool plotting likelihood vs. severity to determine risk level.
🔹 Section 2: Long Answer Questions (15 Examples)
Q16. Explain the five steps of risk assessment with an example.
E.g., Working at height — identify hazards (falling), decide who harmed (workers, public), evaluate risk (severity high, likelihood medium), record findings, review after changes.
Q17. Describe how to evaluate risk severity and likelihood.
Use a scoring system (1–5) for severity and likelihood, multiply to get risk rating.
Q18. Discuss control measures for high-risk activities.
Follow hierarchy of controls — eliminate, substitute, engineering controls, admin controls, PPE.
Q19. How to conduct a risk assessment for new equipment?
Review manufacturer’s info, identify hazards, evaluate risks, consult operators, implement controls.
Q20. Explain the role of legislation in risk assessment.
Many countries mandate risk assessments under occupational safety laws.
Q21. Describe how to communicate risk assessment findings.
Brief staff, display assessments, include in training.
Q22. How to ensure risk assessments stay up to date?
Review periodically, after incidents, or when changes occur.
Q23. Discuss differences between baseline, issue-based, and continuous risk assessments.
Baseline = initial; issue-based = for new hazards; continuous = ongoing monitoring.
Q24. Explain how to prioritize risks.
Use risk rating to rank hazards and address highest risks first.
Q25. What documentation should be maintained for risk assessments?
Assessment forms, control measures, review dates, signatures.
Q26. How can technology improve risk assessments?
Use mobile apps, digital templates, and data analytics.
Q27. How to train employees on risk assessment?
Workshops, case studies, hands-on exercises.
Q28. Discuss common mistakes in risk assessments.
Not involving workers, failing to consider non-routine tasks, not reviewing regularly.
Q29. Explain the concept of ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable).
Reduce risk until further reduction is grossly disproportionate to cost/time/effort.
Q30. How do risk assessments link to safe systems of work?
They form the basis for writing procedures and permits.
🔹 Section 3: Scenario-Based Questions (20 Examples)
Q31. Scenario: You find multiple outdated risk assessments on site.
Answer: Review and update them immediately, communicate changes.
Q32. Scenario: New hazardous chemical introduced.
Answer: Conduct COSHH/risk assessment before use, implement controls.
Q33. Scenario: Worker injured despite existing risk assessment.
Answer: Investigate incident, review assessment, improve controls.
Q34. Scenario: Contractor unfamiliar with your risk assessment.
Answer: Brief contractor, require acknowledgment, include in induction.
Q35. Scenario: Staff not following control measures.
Answer: Reinforce training, supervise, enforce policies.
Q36. Scenario: Project deadline pushes for bypassing controls.
Answer: Stop unsafe practices, escalate to management, review plan.
Q37. Scenario: Risk matrix shows multiple high risks.
Answer: Prioritize high risks, implement immediate controls.
Q38. Scenario: Non-routine task performed without assessment.
Answer: Conduct ad-hoc/dynamic risk assessment, brief team.
Q39. Scenario: Worker suggests safer method not in assessment.
Answer: Evaluate suggestion, update assessment if valid.
Q40. Scenario: Incident occurred but not recorded in assessment review.
Answer: Update assessment, communicate lessons learned.
Q41. Scenario: Language barrier with workers during assessment.
Answer: Use translators, pictograms, or bilingual supervisors.
Q42. Scenario: Risk assessment signed but not implemented.
Answer: Follow up with supervisors, ensure control measures applied.
Q43. Scenario: Safety committee not reviewing assessments.
Answer: Schedule review meetings, assign responsibilities.
Q44. Scenario: New legislation introduced affecting your site.
Answer: Update assessments, train staff, adjust controls.
Q45. Scenario: Equipment vibration levels exceed expected.
Answer: Reassess risks, implement engineering controls or PPE.
Q46. Scenario: Fire drill reveals blocked exit.
Answer: Update assessment, remove obstruction, improve checks.
Q47. Scenario: Workers unaware of emergency controls in assessment.
Answer: Conduct refresher training, post information.
Q48. Scenario: Supervisor alters risk assessment without approval.
Answer: Reinstate proper procedure, retrain, control document versioning.
Q49. Scenario: Several low risks combine to create a major hazard.
Answer: Review cumulative effect, update risk matrix.
Q50. Scenario: Senior management uninterested in risk assessment outcomes.
Answer: Present data on legal obligations, incident costs, and benefits.
Conclusion
Mastering Risk Assessment Interview Questions demonstrates your ability to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and implement controls effectively. By understanding the five steps, risk matrices, and ALARP principles, you’ll be well prepared for safety officer or supervisor roles.
External Link: HSE UK – Risk Assessment
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