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Structural Engineering Risk Assessment

Structural Engineering Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
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  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Structural Engineering Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Structural Engineering activities using this management-level Structural Engineering Risk Assessment, focused on planning, governance, verification, and systems of work rather than task-by-task procedures. This document supports executive Due Diligence, aligns with the WHS Act, and helps minimise WHS Risk Management exposure and organisational liability across structural design, construction, and maintenance activities.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Legal Compliance & PCBU Duties: Assessment of organisational structures, officer due diligence, consultation arrangements, and clarity of roles and responsibilities for structural engineering risk ownership.
  • Structural Design, Verification & Engineering Assurance: Management of design processes, independent verification, peer review, design change control, and sign-off protocols for structural adequacy.
  • Existing Structures Assessment & Load‑Bearing Capacity: Evaluation of inspection methodologies, structural assessment criteria, load rating, and decision-making frameworks for continued use, strengthening, or decommissioning.
  • Structural Alterations, Modifications & Change Management: Governance of alterations to existing structures, engineering review of proposed changes, and formal change management processes to prevent unintended load path or stability issues.
  • Temporary Works, Propping & Load‑Bearing Set‑Up: Controls for the design, certification, installation, inspection, and removal of temporary works, including propping, shoring, and formwork support systems.
  • Lifting, Loading & Working Under Load‑Bearing Elements: Management of structural risks associated with cranage, jacking, staged loading, and work conducted beneath or adjacent to critical load-bearing components.
  • Structural Connections, Interfaces & External Structures: Assessment of interfaces between new and existing structures, connection detailing, fixings, anchors, and integration with adjacent assets and third‑party structures.
  • Structural Materials, Stress, Testing & Verification: Oversight of material selection, certification, stress limits, proof testing, non‑destructive testing (NDT), and verification of as‑built performance against design intent.
  • Inspections, Monitoring & Bridge Instrumentation Maintenance: Protocols for scheduled and condition‑based inspections, structural health monitoring systems, instrumentation calibration, and response to alarms or exceedances.
  • Competency, Training & Supervision of Structural Engineering Activities: Evaluation of competency standards, registration and chartered engineer requirements, supervision levels, and ongoing professional development for engineering and technical staff.
  • Planning, Coordination & Work Integration with Structural Risks: Integration of structural risk considerations into project planning, staging, constructability reviews, and coordination between design, construction, and operations teams.
  • Documentation, Records Management & Traceability: Management of design records, calculations, certifications, drawings, revisions, and traceability of critical decisions throughout the asset life cycle.
  • Contractor, Supplier & Interface Management for Structural Works: Controls for prequalification, scope definition, technical specifications, and oversight of contractors, fabricators, and suppliers involved in structural works.
  • Monitoring, Audit, Incident Management & Continuous Improvement: Systems for performance monitoring, internal and external audits, structural incidents and near‑miss investigations, corrective actions, and continual improvement of structural risk controls.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Engineering Managers, Principal Contractors, and Safety Leaders responsible for planning, approving, and overseeing Structural Engineering and structural works across projects and assets.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Legal Compliance & PCBU Duties
  • • Inadequate understanding of WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulation obligations for structural engineering activities
  • • Lack of clear allocation of WHS responsibilities between PCBU, officers, engineers, supervisors and contractors
  • • Failure to exercise due diligence in relation to structural design, modification and stability assessments
  • • Inadequate consultation mechanisms with workers and other duty holders on structural risks (designers, builders, plant owners, asset managers)
  • • Absence of documented WHS policy specific to structural engineering and structural alteration activities
  • • Poor integration of structural safety requirements into corporate governance, risk and assurance frameworks
2. Structural Design, Verification & Engineering Assurance
  • • Inadequate structural design leading to under‑designed or unstable structures under expected loads
  • • Insufficient consideration of temporary load cases, construction staging, working under load‑bearing beams and overloading of forming systems
  • • Poor engineering assumptions about existing structure load bearing capacity and leverage bearing points
  • • Lack of independent design verification for critical structural elements and alterations affecting stability
  • • Inadequate coordination between permanent works design and temporary works design (falsework, support braces, propping, access systems)
  • • Failure to consider future structural alterations for pipe pathways, services or additional loads at design stage
3. Existing Structures Assessment & Load‑Bearing Capacity
  • • Incorrect assumptions about existing structure load bearing capacity and residual life
  • • Inadequate structural stability assessment prior to alterations, propping removal or load application
  • • Failure to identify deterioration, corrosion, fatigue, impact damage or prior unapproved alterations in existing structures
  • • Insufficient assessment of leverage bearing points used for lifting, jacking, or temporary support braces
  • • Inadequate testing regimes to determine structural safety, strength, durability and weight bearing capacity of external structures
  • • Working under compromised load‑bearing beams or elements without verified stability assessment
4. Structural Alterations, Modifications & Change Management
  • • Uncontrolled structural alterations that affect stability or support loads
  • • Modifications of structural elements during installation without engineering approval
  • • Ad‑hoc structural alterations for pipe pathways and services that compromise structural integrity
  • • Inadequate analysis of load transfer paths when reinforcing structures or altering load‑bearing configurations
  • • Failure to manage cumulative impact of multiple minor structural alterations over time
  • • Lack of documentation and traceability for changes to design intent, materials or connection details
5. Temporary Works, Propping & Load‑Bearing Set‑Up
  • • Incorrect set‑up of load‑bearing structures such as temporary supports, propping and forming systems
  • • Installation of support braces without engineered configuration or load path verification
  • • Manoeuvring support columns in a manner that induces instability in existing structures
  • • Overloading structures or forming systems during construction or maintenance activities
  • • Inadequate design and verification of working under temporarily supported beams and slabs
  • • Failure of temporary structures due to poor inspection, adjustment or maintenance regimes
6. Lifting, Loading & Working Under Load‑Bearing Elements
  • • Uncontrolled loads applied to structures during lifting, jacking and manoeuvring activities
  • • Workers positioned under inadequately assessed load‑bearing beams or suspended loads
  • • Incorrect assessment of load paths when processing work at leverage bearing points
  • • Stress of materials beyond their elastic limit due to mis‑rigging, eccentric loading or shock loading
  • • Inadequate coordination between crane operations, structural supports and temporary works capacity
  • • Failure to restrict access to areas beneath or adjacent to critical load‑bearing elements during high‑risk operations
7. Structural Connections, Interfaces & External Structures
  • • Improper connection to external structures (e.g. adjoining buildings, bridges, pipe racks) leading to load transfer issues
  • • Incompatible movement characteristics between interconnected structures causing overstress or fatigue
  • • Insufficient design or quality control of connection details, welds, bolts and fixings
  • • Unverified capacity of external support structures used for anchorage, bracing or instrumentation mounts
  • • Failure at connection points during testing of strength and durability of external structures
  • • Lack of clear responsibility where multiple asset owners share structural interfaces
8. Structural Materials, Stress, Testing & Verification
  • • Use of incorrect or non‑compliant structural materials with unknown strength properties
  • • Stress of materials beyond their elastic limit due to design error, mis‑specification or incorrect installation
  • • Insufficient testing of strength, durability and weight bearing capacity of new or modified structural elements
  • • Improper test methods creating unsafe conditions during proof‑loading or load testing
  • • Failure to account for long‑term material degradation (fatigue, creep, corrosion) in structural safety assessments
  • • Inadequate traceability of material certificates and test results to installed components
9. Inspections, Monitoring & Bridge Instrumentation Maintenance
  • • Inadequate inspection regimes for structures, welds and connections leading to undetected defects
  • • Poorly maintained or incorrectly installed bridge instrumentation providing misleading structural condition data
  • • Failure to act on adverse monitoring results indicating loss of structural integrity or stability
  • • Insufficient competency of personnel conducting inspections of structures and welds
  • • Inconsistent inspection records and lack of trend analysis for structural performance
  • • Instrumentation cabling, sensors and mounts adversely affecting structural behaviour or introducing hazards
10. Competency, Training & Supervision of Structural Engineering Activities
  • • Lack of competency in structural analysis, stability assessment and load path evaluation among engineering staff
  • • Inadequate supervision of high‑risk tasks such as installation of support braces, manoeuvring support columns and structural alterations
  • • Insufficient understanding by site personnel of the implications of overloading structures or forming systems
  • • Poor appreciation of risks associated with working under load‑bearing beams and at leverage bearing points
  • • Engineers and supervisors unfamiliar with corporate procedures for structural safety and change management
  • • Inadequate handover and mentoring between senior and junior structural engineers
11. Planning, Coordination & Work Integration with Structural Risks
  • • Poor planning of works that affect structural integrity, leading to conflicting activities or unplanned load paths
  • • Inadequate coordination between structural engineers, construction teams, plant operators and maintenance personnel
  • • Simultaneous operations that cumulatively overload structures or temporary works
  • • Failure to plan for progressive reinforcement, staged load transfer and timing of structural alterations
  • • Limited consideration of emergency situations (e.g. partial collapse, propping failure) in project planning
  • • Insufficient integration of structural risk controls into broader project WHS and scheduling processes
12. Documentation, Records Management & Traceability
  • • Loss or inaccessibility of critical structural documentation, including calculations, certificates and inspection records
  • • Use of superseded drawings or specifications during construction, maintenance or alterations
  • • Incomplete or inconsistent recording of structural alterations, testing and reinforcement works
  • • Poor linkage between risk assessments, design decisions and as‑built conditions
  • • Inadequate retention periods for structural integrity records for long‑life assets (e.g. bridges, major load‑bearing structures)
  • • Inability to demonstrate compliance with WHS Act 2011 duties due to poor documentation
13. Contractor, Supplier & Interface Management for Structural Works
  • • Engagement of contractors or suppliers without adequate structural engineering capability or WHS systems
  • • Misalignment between contractor procedures and PCBU structural safety requirements
  • • Poor control of subcontractors undertaking reinforcement, welding or modification of structural elements
  • • Inadequate communication of structural limitations, exclusion zones and load restrictions to third parties
  • • Suppliers providing non‑conforming structural components, braces, or forming systems
  • • Fragmented responsibilities for structural safety at interfaces between multiple PCBUs
14. Monitoring, Audit, Incident Management & Continuous Improvement
  • • Failure to detect systemic weaknesses in structural engineering and integrity management processes
  • • Under‑reporting or poor investigation of structural near misses, defects and non‑conformances
  • • Lack of follow‑through on corrective actions from structural incidents or safety observations
  • • Limited sharing of lessons learned across projects and teams regarding structural failures or close calls
  • • Inadequate performance indicators for structural safety and integrity management
  • • Complacency over time leading to erosion of structural safety standards and controls

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS 5100 (Set): Bridge design — Requirements for structural design, loadings, and verification of bridge structures.
  • AS 4100: Steel structures — Design, fabrication, erection, and modification of steel structural members.
  • AS 3600: Concrete structures — Design and detailing requirements for reinforced and prestressed concrete.
  • AS 1170 (Series): Structural design actions — Imposed, wind, earthquake, and other actions on structures.
  • AS/NZS 1554 (Series): Structural steel welding — Requirements for welded structural connections and quality assurance.
  • AS 2159: Piling — Design and installation of piles for structural support.
  • AS 3990: Mechanical equipment — Steelwork for structures supporting mechanical plant and equipment.
  • AS/NZS ISO 9001: Quality management systems — Requirements for design, verification, and documentation control.
  • Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice: Including Construction Work, Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces, and How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

Safe Work Australia Aligned