What is a hazard risk assessment in the context of electrical work?

• A. A process to prioritize projects based on cost.
• B. A safety program that replaces all PPE.
• C. A process to identify electrical hazards, assess risk level, and implement controls before work begins.
• D. A test that checks insulation resistance.

Answer: (C)

A hazard risk assessment in electrical work is a proactive planning step that identifies potential electrical hazards, evaluates how likely and how severe the consequences could be, and then selects and implements control measures before work begins. This process helps ensure that when a task is planned, there are documented safety measures tailored to the specific hazards, such as de-energizing equipment, applying lockout/tagout, using proper insulation and barriers, and providing appropriate PPE. It’s about anticipating danger and putting in place controls to reduce the risk to an acceptable level before any electrical work starts.

This isn’t about prioritizing projects by cost, nor is it a safety program that replaces PPE, and it isn’t simply a test of insulation resistance. The assessment informs what PPE and procedures are needed and what other controls should be in place to protect workers.