---
title: "Work Phases and Risk Assessment"
url: "https://docs.4hse.com/guides/work-phases-and-risk-assessment/work-phases"
description: "Managing work phases and risk assessment in 4HSE, with practical examples."
---

# Work Phases and Risk Assessment

Work phases are used to describe in detail the tasks performed by workers in different roles.

This is essential for identifying **hazards** associated with the physical resources used (work environments, equipment, and substances), and consequently, for identifying and assessing the **risks** to which workers are exposed.

Through this analysis, it becomes possible to define the most effective **mitigation actions**, also considering **exposure time**, in order to ensure adequate prevention and protect workers’ health.

To create a new work phase:

1.  Access the relevant office;
2.  Open the “Work Phases” menu;
3.  Click on **“NEW”**;
4.  Fill in the dialog with the required data;
5.  Save to add the new phase to the list.

## Risk Assessment

[Section titled “Risk Assessment”](#risk-assessment)

Risk assessment in 4HSE is carried out using a **matrix**, accessible via the button available in each risk entry.

![Path to the risk assessment matrix](/_astro/work-phases-1.746EeN3h_Z29nUj0.webp)

![Risk assessment matrix](/_astro/work-phases-2.CzbUgBUF_Z1K0SV6.webp)

This matrix allows you to:

-   Determine the values for **Probability** and **Severity**, which define the **Initial Risk**;
-   Link **mitigation actions**, to which an **impact** value can be assigned;
-   Calculate the **Residual Risk**, taking into account the effect of the applied actions. This value can be updated over time to reflect changes in operating conditions or prevention measures.

### How to perform a risk assessment

[Section titled “How to perform a risk assessment”](#how-to-perform-a-risk-assessment)

1.  **Open a work phase**, then:

-   Link the **Sources** (environments, equipment, substances);
-   List the **Hazards**, by linking or creating them. If needed, enable the **“Present”** flag to indicate that the hazard is active in that phase; ![Hazard detail window](/_astro/work-phases-3.BehxR2Zl_Z2jrmrX.webp)
-   Identify the **Risks**;
-   Link the appropriate **Mitigation Actions**; ![Linking risk and mitigation action](/_astro/work-phases-4.DQk5KMIS_1TGg6H.webp)
-   Link the **People** involved in the phase;
-   (Optional, for DUVRI) Link the **Suppliers**.

2.  **Assess each risk**:

-   Enter the **matrix** by clicking on the **“Risk Assessment”** button in the **Risk** entry;
-   Enter the **Initial Probability** and **Initial Severity** values to determine the **Initial Risk**;
-   For each **mitigation action**, enter the **impact on Probability and Severity** to calculate the **Residual Risk**. ![Risk assessment matrix view](/_astro/work-phases-5.DuIq5tWz_2dBow6.webp)

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