Are You Asking the Right Questions About Hazards and Risks?

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of any aviation organization—and one of the most overlooked at the executive level. Too often, leaders assume that their teams have it covered. But if you’re not directly engaged, how do you really know?

Here are some questions you should be asking yourself - and your team - right now.

1. Do we truly understand the difference between a hazard and a risk?

It sounds simple, but the confusion here is widespread. Hazards are conditions with the potential to cause harm; risk is the likelihood and severity of that harm being realized. If your team uses the terms interchangeably, you may already have gaps in your safety oversight.

2. How often do we review our Hazard Register?

A register that hasn’t been updated in over a year is stale. Hazards change as operations evolve, new equipment arrives, or new contracts are signed. If your hazard register isn’t being actively managed, you’re carrying hidden risks that could impact safety, operations, finances, or your organization’s reputation.

3. Where do our hazards come from?

Do you only identify hazards when something goes wrong, or do you have multiple channels feeding into the process - inspections, audits, reports from frontline staff, third-party reviews? A narrow funnel means blind spots. Wide funnels mean stronger resilience.

4. Who on our team can actually identify and assess risk?

If only a handful of specialists understand how to apply your risk matrix, you’re limiting your organization’s ability to capture real hazards. Executives, managers, and frontline workers should all understand what makes a risk high, medium, or low - and what that means for your operation.

5. Do we, as leaders, actively participate in Safety Risk Management?

This isn’t just a paperwork exercise. Executives must be part of setting the risk tolerances, approving mitigations, and understanding trade-offs. If you’re simply signing off on reports without digging into the content, you’re not leading safety - you’re just endorsing assumptions.

6. How does Continuous Improvement factor into our HIRA process?

Safety isn’t static. Every risk control should be monitored and measured: is it effective, or does it need strengthening? If your HIRA and Safety Case processes don’t tie directly into continuous improvement, you’re missing the point—and increasing your exposure.

If you hesitated - or answered “no” or “I don’t know” - to too many of these questions, you may have serious vulnerabilities in your safety management approach.

That’s where Acclivix can help.

• We deliver a HIRA and Safety Case Course a few times a year (our next session will be delivered online, instructor-led on October 1–2).

• We can conduct an independent review of your hazard register.

• We can facilitate your annual HIRA review with your team.

• We can help you establish robust processes and supporting software to ensure your safety oversight is strong, repeatable, and continuously improving.

Reach out to us today and start the conversation.

Helping you keep your site safe and secure is our business.