What does HIRA stand for?

HIRA stands for Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. It's the process of identifying things in the workplace that could cause harm (hazards) and evaluating how likely they are to cause injury or illness (risk assessment).

Is HIRA a legal requirement in South Africa?

Yes. Section 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to identify hazards in their workplace and assess the associated risks. Risk assessments must be documented and regularly reviewed.

How long is the HIRA training course?

Our HIRA course runs for 1 day (8 hours). It covers everything from the legal framework through to conducting a full risk assessment.

Can I do the HIRA course online?

Yes. Since HIRA training is theory-based, we offer both in-person and online options. The online course covers all the same content with interactive discussions and practical exercises.

What is the difference between a baseline, issue-based and continuous risk assessment?

A baseline risk assessment is a comprehensive initial assessment of all hazards in a workplace. An issue-based risk assessment focuses on a specific task, process or area. A continuous risk assessment is an ongoing process built into daily operations to catch new or changing hazards. All three types are covered in our course.

Do you offer onsite HIRA training?

Yes. We offer onsite training for groups in Gauteng and Cape Town. We can also train teams anywhere in South Africa if you're willing to cover travel and accommodation costs. Contact us for a custom quote.

HIRA Risk Assessment Training, Online or Onsite

HIRA Training Courses South Africa

The HIRA Training public class is online and open to anyone in South Africa, R1,850 per person: see the dates and book.

Onsite course for your group anywhere in South Africa, travel and accommodation quoted outside Gauteng. Rather not pay for travel? We run the same course online.

★★★★★ 4.9 from 257+ Google reviews Based in Centurion. Onsite across Gauteng, and anywhere in South Africa with travel quoted.

Join from anywhere in South Africa

The HIRA Training public class is online, so you can join from Durban, Cape Town, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Rustenburg, the Vaal or anywhere in Gauteng, for R1,850 per person. You get the same certificate as a group trained onsite.

The online price is the full price: no travel, no accommodation, no venue to hire. Groups can still be trained onsite anywhere in South Africa, with travel quoted.

Benefits of Working With DDi

OHS Act compliant training

Certified first aiders, SHE reps and fire teams, so your OHS Act boxes are ticked.

We come to you, or join a public class

We handle the admin, and train at your workplace, in Centurion or online.

Facilitators with real-life experience

Facilitators with real emergency experience, who answer every question.

Lekker interactive, never boring

Engaging, clear and fun, so people stay switched on all day.

Practical, hands-on learning

Identify the hazards, rate the risks, choose the controls and document the findings.

HIRA Training Courses

Giving your workforce the knowledge and practical skills to identify workplace hazards, assess risk levels, and put the right controls in place.

Course Information

Course Details

Duration: 1 Day (8 hours).
Venue: We offer onsite training for groups. Online training is also available.
Pricing: R1,850 per person for the online class, or onsite from R1,340 per person (excl. VAT) for groups of 20 or more (R1,750 for 4 to 9), or the same per-person rate for a private online session for your team, no travel. Contact us for a quote for your group and location.

Why HIRA Training Matters

Risk assessment isn’t just paperwork. It’s the foundation of every workplace safety system. When it’s done properly, your team can spot problems before they turn into incidents.

HIRA training gives your team the ability to:

Identify workplace hazards that often go unnoticed until something goes wrong
Assess the actual level of risk each hazard presents, rather than guessing
Apply the right controls using the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, admin, PPE)
Meet your legal obligations under Section 8 of the OHS Act
Reduce workplace injuries, near-misses and the costs that come with them
Build a proactive safety culture where risks are managed, not just reacted to

The OHS Act doesn’t just suggest risk assessments. It requires them. Employers who skip proper hazard identification and risk assessment leave the duty under section 8 unmet, and leave preventable injuries in place.

Who is this course for?

SHE Representatives who need to conduct or participate in workplace risk assessments
Safety Officers and Safety Committee members
Facilities and maintenance teams who deal with physical workplace hazards
HR professionals responsible for OHS compliance
Anyone who wants to understand how to identify and manage workplace risks

Who should attend: at least one trained person per site, usually the SHE rep, supervisor or section 16(2) appointee. Your risk assessment decides how many. Shifts, site layout and your internal policy may call for more.

No prior experience is needed. We start from the basics and build up to practical application.

Want to read more first? See What is HIRA in safety? and the HIRA process and its legal requirements.

Got questions about our HIRA training courses?

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4.9★★★★★257+ reviewsRead all reviews

“Kerry was absolutely fantastic!! Professional and thorough in the training provided. We all really enjoyed this training and certainly learnt a lot from her. DDI will, with out a doubt, be our preferred supplier for Health and Safety courses going forward. Their email responses were quick and efficient. Thank you all for making this a great experience.”
Robbie Breedt

It was a very well-structured learning experience. It's strange to be able to learn so much in one session about a subject one had no prior knowledge of. Thank you so much to the academy.

★★★★Thato Mokhine

The facilitator made the experience super engaging and stimulating. There wasn’t one moment I felt board. Really enjoyed the way in which the material was taught. Highly recommend.

★★★★★Lilu Miller

HIRA Training Courses South Africa

Join from anywhere in South Africa