Announcements
Academy Documents
Kindly access the Students' Policies & Forms by clicking on the button below. The following documents, among others, can be found there: Student Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, Students' Privacy Notice, Deferral, Suspension, and Cancellation Policy, Assignment Extension Policy, Re-Sit Policy, Complaints Procedure Policy, Equality Policy, and Student Disciplinary Policy.
Sessions' Venue
All sessions will be held at 21 Academy's Training Centre in Naxxar
21 Business Centre, No. 20., Triq in-Nutar Debono, Naxxar NXR 2525 - Room 3
Lecture Schedule & Notes
Lecture notes will be available during the week following the respective lecture. Schedule dates are indicative and may change. All changes, if any, may be communicated via email, SMS or telephone calls.
| Lecture | Date | Time | Presentation | Notes (If Any) | Session Recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture 01 | 13 April 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 01 | Notes | |
| Lecture 02 | 30 April 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 02 | ||
| Lecture 03 | 4 May 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 03 | ||
| Lecture 04 | 11 May 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 04 | ||
| Lecture 05 | 18 May 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 05 | ||
| Lecture 06 | 22 May 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 06 | ||
| Lecture 07 | 1 June 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 07 | Notes | |
| Lecture 08 | 5 June 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 08 | ||
| Lecture 09 | 8 June 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 09 | ||
| Lecture 10 | 15 June 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 10 | ||
| Lecture 11 | 22 June 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | Presentation 11 | ||
| Lecture 12 | 13 July 2026 | 17:30 to 20:30hrs | |||
| Quiz | 20 July 2026 | 17:30 to 18:30hrs | |||
| Presentations | 20 July 2026 | 18:30 to 20:30hrs |
Lecturer
Lecture Summaries & Suggested Reading
Lecture 1 -Introduction to Risk Management
This lecture introduces the fundamental concepts of risk management, focusing on the essential terminology and principles used across industries. Students explore the definitions of hazards, risks, controls, and exposure, learning how these elements interact within workplace environments. The session highlights why risk management is vital for organisational safety, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance. Students are also introduced to key risk management frameworks, including ISO 45001, Vision ZERO and HSE HS Management System, to understand structured approaches for identifying, assessing, and controlling risks. This foundation prepares learners for deeper exploration of workplace hazards and effective risk control strategies in later lessons.
What Students Will Gain
- A clear understanding of key risk management terms and their relevance.
- Insight into why organisations implement risk management systems.
- Awareness of internationally recognised frameworks that guide best practice.
A foundational knowledge base to support more advanced risk assessment and control topics.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
-
Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 2 -Legal and Regulatory Requirements
This lecture explores the core legislation, compliance requirements, and standards that govern workplace risk. Students are introduced to key national health and safety laws and relevant European Directives that shape modern workplace protections. The session outlines the legal duties placed on employers, such as providing safe systems of work, risk assessments, and appropriate training, as well as the responsibilities of employees to follow procedures, use equipment correctly, and report hazards. Students also examine the role of regulatory authorities, including how inspections, enforcement notices, and prosecutions are used to ensure compliance. Realistic workplace scenarios are used to demonstrate how legal principles are applied in practice, helping learners understand both the consequences of non-compliance and the benefits of proactive risk management protocols.
Student Gains:
Students will gain the ability to identify applicable regulations, interpret legal duties, recognise enforcement mechanisms, and apply compliance requirements to workplace risk situations.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 3 - Types of Risks in Organisations
This lecture examines the major categories of organisational risk—financial, operational, strategic, compliance, and emerging, highlighting how each type influences overall performance. Students explore the distinctions between internal risks, such as process failures, cultural weaknesses, or financial mismanagement, and external risks, including market volatility, regulatory changes, and technological disruption. The session emphasises how risks rarely exist in isolation; instead, interdependencies often amplify their impact. For example, a strategic misstep can trigger financial losses, operational breakdowns, or compliance breaches. Through real case studies of organisational risk failures, students analyse how poor identification, weak controls, or inadequate oversight can lead to significant reputational and financial damage. These examples demonstrate the importance of proactive risk management and the need for organisations to continuously monitor both current and emerging threats.
Student Gains:
Students gain the ability to differentiate clearly between risk categories, evaluate how each risk type affects organisational stability and performance, recognise interactions between internal and external risks, and apply analytical skills to real-world risk failures.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 4 - Hazard Identification and Workplace Assessment
This lesson introduces the core principles of hazard identification and workplace assessment, focusing on practical methods for detecting hazards in processes, equipment, and working environments. Students explore a range of hazard-spotting techniques, learning how to observe work activities, recognise unsafe conditions, and identify early warning signs across different sectors. The lesson also covers Job Safety Analysis (JSA), breaking down tasks into individual steps to reveal task-specific risks, control gaps, and opportunities for safer work practices. Attention is given to hazards linked to processes—such as chemical, mechanical, or thermal risks—and those arising from equipment use, including malfunction, misuse, or poor maintenance. By applying structured approaches, learners develop more consistent and thorough assessment skills.
Student Gains:
Students gain the ability to conduct systematic hazard identification, recognise diverse workplace hazards, understand the value of JSA, and apply observation and analysis techniques to reduce risk across various work settings.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 5- Risk Assessment Methodologies – Quantitative Approaches
This lesson introduces practical qualitative tools used to assess workplace risks. Students learn how to apply risk matrices and ranking systems to evaluate the likelihood and severity of potential hazards. The session explains the structure and use of 5×5 risk scoring, showing how numerical values support consistent, prioritised decision-making. Learners explore the balance between subjective judgment, such as personal experience or perception, and more objective factors like incident data or established standards. Through guided examples, students practise generating basic risk ratings and interpreting outcomes to support risk control planning. The lesson emphasises clarity, consistency, and the importance of transparent reasoning in qualitative assessments.
Student Gains:
Students gain confidence in using qualitative risk tools, producing simple risk ratings, and understanding the influence of subjective and objective factors on assessment quality.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 6 -Risk Assessment Methodologies – Quantitative Approaches
This lesson explores quantitative risk assessment methodologies, emphasising how data-driven techniques support more precise and evidence-based decision-making. Students are introduced to key analytical tools that quantify the likelihood and potential consequences of unwanted events. The session begins with probability analysis, examining how numerical estimates of failure frequency, event likelihood, and consequence severity contribute to measurable risk levels. Learners then study Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), breaking down systems or processes to identify potential failure modes, rate their severity, occurrence, and detectability, and calculate Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs) to guide prioritisation. The lesson also covers quantitative exposure limits, such as occupational exposure values, threshold limit levels, and dose - response data, showing how these benchmarks help determine acceptable or unacceptable risk levels. Throughout the session, students practise interpreting real or simulated datasets, learning to spot trends, analyse variations, and translate numerical outputs into clear, defensible decisions. Emphasis is placed on ensuring accuracy, objectivity, and transparency when using quantitative tools.
Student Gains:
Students gain the ability to apply quantitative techniques confidently, interpret risk-related data, evaluate failure modes using FMEA, understand exposure limits, and use data insights to support evidence-based risk management decisions.
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Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 7 - Control of Workplace Safety Hazards
This lesson will explore effective strategies for managing mechanical, physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards in the workplace. Students examine the Hierarchy of Controls, learning how to prioritise elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative measures, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce risks. The lesson also covers engineering solutions such as machine guarding and ventilation, alongside administrative controls like safe-work procedures, job rotation, and training. Students are introduced to COSHH principles, gaining an understanding of how to assess, control, and monitor exposure to hazardous substances through proper storage, handling, and documentation.
By the end of the lesson, students gain the ability to develop hazard-specific control measures and evaluate the effectiveness of existing safety controls. They also strengthen their decision-making skills by determining the most suitable control strategies for different workplace scenarios, ensuring a safer and more compliant work environment.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 8 - Managing Exposure to Hazardous Substances and Physical Agents
This session focuses on understanding how hazardous substances and physical agents enter the body and how exposure can be effectively reduced through thoughtful planning and control strategies. Students explore key exposure pathways, including inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion—and examine how workplace design, safe handling techniques, and process modifications can minimise these risks. The lesson also introduces major physical agents such as noise, vibration, radiation, and temperature extremes, highlighting how each can impact worker health and performance.
Students learn to interpret and apply exposure limits for both chemical and physical hazards, using regulatory standards and workplace guidelines to inform safe work practices. The lesson emphasises the importance of monitoring and exposure assessment, including air sampling, noise measurements, and health surveillance, to ensure ongoing protection and regulatory compliance.
By the end of the lesson, students gain the ability to plan work processes that reduce harmful exposures, recognise when exposure limits may be exceeded, and implement practical, evidence-based controls. They also develop stronger analytical skills in evaluating workplace conditions, enabling them to proactively identify risks and contribute to a safer, healthier working environment.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 9 -Risk Monitoring, Evaluation, and Review
This session focuses on how organisations track workplace risks over time to ensure that control measures remain effective and relevant. Students explore the difference between leading indicators, which predict and prevent incidents, and lagging indicators, which measure events that have already occurred. The lesson highlights the importance of structured inspections, auditing processes, and review cycles to verify compliance, identify gaps, and ensure continual improvement in safety performance.
Students learn how to develop practical monitoring procedures, including routine checks, data collection methods, and reporting processes that support informed decision-making. The role of lessons learned is emphasised, showing how incident findings and near-misses can drive safer practices and strengthen organisational learning.
By the end of the lesson, students gain the ability to evaluate risk performance indicators, design effective monitoring systems, and contribute to a culture of ongoing improvement, helping maintain a proactive, reliable, and resilient safety management approach.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 10 - Risk Mitigation, Transfer, and Insurance
Lesson 10 explores a range of strategies organisations use to reduce, share, or transfer risk in order to protect people, assets, and operations. Students first examine the difference between mitigation planning, which focuses on reducing the likelihood or impact of risks, and contingency planning, which prepares the organisation to respond effectively if an incident occurs. The lesson also introduces methods of contractual risk transfer, such as indemnity clauses and service agreements, showing how responsibilities can be shared or allocated between parties.
Additionally, students study the core principles of insurance, including risk pooling, premiums, coverage types, and claims processes. They learn how insurance supports wider risk-management strategies by providing financial protection when mitigation alone is insufficient.
By the end of the lesson, students gain the ability to design practical mitigation plans, understand when and how to transfer risk contractually, and recognise the value of insurance as part of a comprehensive risk-management approach. They develop stronger strategic thinking and decision-making skills essential for managing organisational resilience.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 11 -Risk Culture, Behaviour, and Organisational Risk
This lesson explores how human behaviour and organisational culture shape risk-related decisions. It highlights the role of risk culture, the shared values, beliefs, and attitudes toward risk, in influencing how individuals identify, assess, and respond to risk. Students examine factors that influence safety culture, including leadership commitment, communication, accountability, and employee engagement. The lesson also introduces behavioural safety principles, emphasising how understanding human behaviour can reduce unsafe acts and improve risk outcomes. In addition, students learn how organisations define, set, and communicate their risk appetite and tolerance, ensuring that risk-taking aligns with strategic objectives and regulatory expectations.
Student gains:
By the end of the lesson, students gain the ability to explain the importance of risk culture, assess organisational risk appetite and tolerance levels, and understand how behavioural and cultural factors influence safety and risk management. They develop practical insight into promoting positive risk-aware behaviours within organisations.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 12 -Communicating and Presenting Risk
This lesson focuses on the effective communication of risk information to support informed decision-making across an organisation. It examines how risk assessments, controls, and mitigation strategies can be clearly documented and presented for different stakeholder groups. Students explore stakeholder management, learning how to identify stakeholder needs, expectations, and levels of risk awareness. The lesson covers key risk communication tools, including risk reports, dashboards, and heat maps, and explains how visual formats can enhance understanding of complex risk data. Emphasis is placed on adapting communication styles and messages for non-technical audiences, ensuring clarity, relevance, and transparency.
Student gains:
By completing this lesson, students develop the skills to prepare professional risk communication documents and confidently present risk strategies to stakeholders. They gain practical experience in translating technical risk information into clear, accessible messages, improving their ability to influence decisions, support governance processes, and promote a strong risk-aware culture within organisations
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Lecture 13 -Integrated Risk Management and Capstone Assessment
- This lesson brings together all concepts covered in the module through an applied, integrated approach to risk management. Students develop a comprehensive risk management framework, incorporating risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring strategies. The lesson emphasises designing effective contingency and mitigation plans that align with organisational objectives and risk appetite. Learning culminates in a final capstone assessment or case study, allowing students to apply theory to real-world scenarios.Student gains:
By the end of the lesson, students demonstrate full competence across the module, gaining the ability to build and present an integrated risk management plan and confidently apply professional risk management principles in practical contexts.
Core Reading List
- St. John Holt A (2009) Principles of Health and Safety at Work. IOSH.
- Boyle T (2018) Health and Safety: Risk Management. RoutledgeStranks J (2019) Health and Safety at Work: An Essential Guide for Managers. Kogan Page
- Gooch BT (2021) Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks. Wiley.
Supplementary Reading List
- Dekker S (2017) The Safety Anarchist: Relying on Human Expertise and Innovation, Reducing Bureaucracy and Compliance. Routledge
Methods of Assessment
Quiz (15% of final grade)
Assignment (60% of final grade)
Presentation (25% of final grade)
Quiz
There will be one online Quiz after the last lecture on Monday, 20th July, 2026, at 5.30 p.m. Information on how this will be carried out may be obtained by clicking on the button below. The Quiz will carry 15% of the final score.
Assignment
You are required to choose one of the three questions available in the Assignment Submission Form made available by clicking the button below. The assignment must be submitted no later than Thursday, 20 August 2026, along with the Assignment Submission Form. Please ensure that you indicate the question you have addressed on the Assignment Submission Form.
For guidance on how to plan, draft, and submit your assignment, please refer to the 21 Academy presentation on Writing and Submitting Your Assignment by clicking the button below.
Writing and Submitting Your Assignment
We are also providing the 21 Academy's Assignments Rubric for your reference. This rubric is a performance-based assessment tool that tutors will use for grading, and it will help you understand the requirements of the assignment and how it will be assessed.
Presentation
You also have to prepare and deliver a 5-minute presentation on your assignment. The presentation will be delivered on the date indicated in the module's timetable above.
A Presentation Rubric is being made available for your guidance below. This is a performance-based assessment tool. Tutors will use the rubric to assist them to allocate scoring while it allows students to understand what is required in the presentation and how your presentation will be graded.
Your presentation should be also be submitted in pdf format on Turnitin by not later than 24 hours before it is being delivered. Do not scan the presentation but convert/save it directly to pdf.
Note that the submitted presentations will be scanned for plagiarism.
Referencing Style
Your assignment and presentation should be referenced using the Harvard Referencing style. Please follow a short video, by clicking on the button below, to understand this referencing style.
Submitting Assignments and Presentations - Turnitin
The Academy will notify you via email when the assignment questions become available. Shortly after, you will receive another email from Turnitin, likely on the same day, confirming your enrolment in a "class" where you can upload your assignment(s).
Please ensure that your assignments are submitted no later than 23:59 on the assignment submission deadline, as indicated on the Assignment Submission form or in the Turnitin "class."
At 21 Academy, you have the option to submit multiple drafts before the final submission deadline. The version uploaded at the deadline will be treated as your final submission for assessment. Please note that Turnitin evaluates the same assignment twice within a 24-hour period, so any additional submissions during this time will not be reviewed until the 24-hour period has passed. Ensure that your final submission does not exceed 20% similarity, particularly when using direct quotations.
Follow this very short video to understand how to submit your assignment through Turnitin
To understand the similarity report generated by Turnitin follow this 1 minute video