Part of Curriculum level 3 - guidance
Module 3.5 - Hazard assessment and methodology
This module develops systematic hazard identification using a patient-centric, care-pathway approach. It covers hazard workshops, identification techniques and control strategies.
This module will provide:
- Technical causes versus patient-centric hazards
- Hazard identification and analysis techniques
- Pre-emptive and reactive controls
- Identifies hazards along the patient journey
- Plans and facilitates hazard workshops
- Designs balanced control strategies
- Patient-centred mindset
- Inclusive and structured facilitation
- Prefers robust, layered controls
Learning outcome 5
Systematic definition of patient-centric hazards.
Content guidance
1. Identifying patient centric hazardous scenarios exploring causes/contributory factors/sequence of events
Difference between a technical cause and a patient-centric hazard
Care-pathway thinking — what the patient experiences, not what the system reports
Worked examples from different clinical scenarios
Learning outcome 6
Organising and running a hazard workshop.
Content guidance
1. Workshop design
Purpose, participants and preparation.
Utilising the bow tie methodology to identify gaps in controls.
Capturing outputs and feeding them into the Hazard Log.
Learning outcome 7
Hazard identification and analysis techniques.
Content guidance
1. Selecting fit-for-purpose techniques
Brainstorming, walkthroughs.
Consider discussing various tools and techniques such as Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP), failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), Structured What If Technique (SWIFT).
Strengths and limitations of each technique.
Combining techniques to address complex system-of-systems hazards.
Learning outcome 8
Knowledge of hazard description terminology.
Content guidance
1. Applying the framework
Definitions and relationships between cause, hazard and harm.
Consistent language across workshops and hazard logs.
Learning outcome 11
Concept of controls — pre-emptive and reactive.
Content guidance
1. Designing balanced control strategies
Consider discussing various tools and techniques such as James Reason’s Swiss cheese model, Bow tie.
Types of controls — design, business process, training.
Pre-emptive versus reactive controls and their lifecycle role.
Linking controls to causes in the Hazard Log.
Learning outcome 12
Different types of controls and their strengths and weaknesses.
Content guidance
1. Critiquing control sets
Comparative effectiveness of different control types.
Common failure modes of controls.
Identifying gaps and over-reliance; recommending layered mitigations.
Last edited: 17 July 2026 12:02 pm