Qualitative Risk Assessment
Qualitative Risk Assessment (QRA) provides a structured, deterministic approach to identifying, assessing, and managing risks in high-hazard industries. It supports the demonstration that engineering designs, safety measures, and operational practices are robust, effective, and aligned with ALARP principles. Using methods such as hazard identification (HAZID), risk matrices, bowtie analysis, and human factors assessment, we help organisations manage complex risks, comply with regulatory and industry standards like ISO 31000, IEC 61511, and Seveso III, and protect people, assets, and the environment across the asset lifecycle.
Service information
- Facilitate hazard identification workshops, collate comprehensive hazard registers and perform fault grouping for efficient and auditable risk assessment
- Conduct operating basis, design basis, and beyond design basis evaluations
- Ensure sufficient defence-in-depth safety measures are in place to manage identified hazards, in accordance with the hierarchy of controls
- Undertake Safety Integrity Level (SIL) determination and reviews per IEC 61508 and IEC 61511
- Specify clear Safety Functional Requirements (SFRs) for safety-critical systems and independent protection layers (IPLs)
- Apply bowtie methodologies to visualise threat-consequence pathways, escalation risks, and barrier effectiveness
- Incorporate ALARP demonstrations using structured risk assessment matrices aligned with HSE guidance
- Prepare clear, auditable documentation for risk assessments, ALARP justifications, and regulator-facing safety submissions
- Provide tailored training, workshops, and capacity building on qualitative risk assessment methods, best practices, and industry standards
