What are the steps to reducing risk so far as is reasonably practicable (SFAIRP)?

Mitigating risk to the extent that is reasonably practicable (SFAIRP) serves as a core tenet of occupational health and safety (OHS) and effective risk management. This principle compels organisations to adopt all reasonable measures to reduce risks, carefully weighing the potential dangers against the necessary effort, time, and cost involved in implementing such measures.

Reducing risk SFAIRP is a decision standard, not a paperwork exercise. Work Safety Hub helps teams apply it in real work through WHS Risk Assessments that prioritise credible scenarios, consequence pathways and the few controls that must hold. We involve people closest to the task, capture performance-shaping factors (time pressure, interfaces, maintenance), and document why selected options are reasonably practicable, so your reasoning stands up to board and regulator scrutiny. Findings are verified via targeted Safety Audits and Inspections to ensure controls are usable across shifts and contractors. Make safety work, beyond paperwork. People are the solution; error is normal.

Key Principles of SFAIRP

1. Proportionality: The greater the risk, the more effort is required to reduce it.
2. Reasonableness: Controls must be feasible and not grossly disproportionate to the risk being mitigated.
3. Systematic Process: Decisions must be based on evidence, logical reasoning, and robust evaluation.

Steps to Reduce Risk SFAIRP

1. Identify Hazards

   • Conduct a thorough hazard identification process to pinpoint potential sources of harm in the workplace.

2. Assess the Risk

   • Evaluate the likelihood and consequence of harm for each hazard. Use tools like risk matrices or bow-tie analysis to determine risk levels.

3. Determine Control Measures

   • Apply the hierarchy of controls to select the most effective risk-reduction measures:
     1. Elimination: Remove the hazard entirely.
     2. Substitution: Replace the hazard with something less harmful.
     3. Engineering Controls: Physically isolate people from the hazard.
     4. Administrative Controls: Change how work is performed (e.g., training, procedures).
     5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use protective gear as a last resort.

4. Evaluate Practicability

   • Assess whether the identified controls are reasonably practicable by considering:
     • The severity of the risk.
     • The likelihood of harm occurring.
     • The availability and feasibility of control measures.
     • The cost of implementation relative to the risk.

5. Prioritise and Implement Controls

   • Address higher-priority risks first by implementing the most effective and feasible controls.
   • Document the decisions made, including why certain controls were not implemented if deemed grossly disproportionate.

6. Verify Control Effectiveness

   • Monitor the performance of implemented controls to ensure they are functional, reliable, and effective.
   • Use techniques like inspections, audits, or testing.

7. Review and Revise

   • Regularly review risks and controls, especially after incidents, organisational changes, or new hazards arise.
   • Revise measures as necessary to maintain alignment with SFAIRP principles.

SFAIRP decisions are strongest when leaders test control effectiveness under real conditions. Our Critical Risk Reviews & Bowtie Analysis focus attention on life saving controls, then stress test usability under fatigue, abnormal operations and contractor interfaces. Where gaps appear, we facilitate Learning Teams with supervisors and crews to co-design small, testable changes that improve reliability without bloating procedures. We align effort with consequence, so resources land where they change outcomes first. This turns SFAIRP from theory into operational reliability, fewer surprises, faster recovery, and credible governance reporting.

Documenting SFAIRP Decisions

• Keep records of:
  • Hazard identification and risk assessments.
  • Control measures considered and implemented.
  • Justifications for measures deemed impracticable.
  • Monitoring and review processes.

This documentation is critical to demonstrate compliance with SFAIRP obligations and defend decisions if scrutinised by regulators or in legal contexts.

Challenges in Applying SFAIRP

• Continuous Improvement: Maintaining the discipline to revisit and enhance controls over time.

FAQ — Reducing Risk SFAIRP

1) What does SFAIRP actually mean in practice?

SFAIRP means you must reduce risk by doing what a reasonable person would do, given the likelihood and severity of harm, what you know (or ought to know) about the hazard, available ways to control it, and whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk reduction. We help teams apply this test in real work through WHS Risk Assessments that prioritise credible scenarios and the few controls that must hold.

2) How do we show a regulator or board that we acted SFAIRP?

Document how you identified hazards, weighed likelihood and consequence, considered feasible controls, and justified your decisions, including why any options were not chosen. Our Systems & Compliance Advisory makes this clear and concise, while Safety Audits and Inspections provide current evidence that controls are in place and usable.

3) How do we decide what is “reasonably practicable”?

Work through the factors: risk level, knowledge, availability and suitability of controls, and cost, tested against the gross disproportionality principle. Our Critical Risk Reviews & Bowtie Analysis focus decision makers on the handful of life saving controls and stress test their effectiveness under fatigue, time pressure and contractor interfaces.

4) Where do we start if resources are tight?

Start where consequence is highest and controls are thinnest. We run a quick triage, then deliver targeted WHS Risk Assessments and Critical Risk Reviews so effort lands where it changes outcomes first. People are the solution.

5) How do we keep SFAIRP up to date as work changes?

Treat SFAIRP as an ongoing duty. When conditions change, new plant, procedures, materials, or staffing, re-test assumptions and controls. We facilitate Learning Teams to surface how work is really done, then verify control integrity through follow-up Safety Audits and Inspections.

6) How should we weigh cost in SFAIRP decisions?

Cost is relevant only after you’ve considered risk and feasible controls. If a control materially reduces serious harm, it’s expected, unless cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk reduction. Our Systems & Compliance Advisory helps record the rationale so decisions are defensible and practical.

7) What evidence should we keep to prove SFAIRP?

Keep your reasoning trail: risk assessment notes, options considered, trials, worker input, and assurance results showing controls work in context. Our Incident Investigation & Learning Teams convert events and near misses into improvements, while Safety Audits and Inspections provide fresh assurance data.

8) How does SFAIRP apply to contractors and interfaces?

SFAIRP extends to how you coordinate, consult and verify controls across interfaces. We align responsibilities and test real-world usability through Critical Risk Reviews, then embed clear expectations via Systems & Compliance Advisory so paperwork matches practice.

9) What are common pitfalls that keep organisations from meeting SFAIRP?

Over  relying on paperwork, ignoring performance shaping factors (fatigue, time pressure), and failing to test control usability. Another is treating repeat findings as a people problem, not a system signal. Our Safety Leadership & Culture program builds just culture and effective response, management response matters.

10) What’s the quickest way to move forward from where we are now?

Book a short triage. We’ll prioritise two or three high-leverage actions, typically a Critical Risk Review paired with a targeted WHS Risk Assessment  and set up lightweight assurance so improvements stick. Make safety work, beyond paperwork.

Summary

To effectively reduce risk SFAIRP, organisations should adopt a clear and methodical approach. This involves systematically identifying hazards, assessing the associated risks, implementing appropriate control measures based on the hierarchy of controls, and continuously monitoring and refining these interventions. It is crucial to carefully consider the severity of each risk alongside the effort, time, and costs required for implementing controls, ensuring that all actions taken are both reasonable and defensible. The framework outlined in this article serves as a valuable resource for organisations striving to meet their SFAIRP obligations while promoting a safer workplace environment.