Once a Risk Assessment Template has been created, administrators can configure its Risk Assessment Properties. These settings control how risk assessments behave when users create new records from that template — including workflow options, pre-population rules, and access permissions.
These properties help ensure that assessments are structured consistently across the organization while still allowing flexibility for site- or process-specific needs.
Accessing Risk Assessment Properties
To access and configure template properties:
Navigate to the Risk Assessments module.
Open the Assessment Templates tab.
Select the template you want to configure (for example, Job Hazard Analysis or Equipment Risk Assessment).
On the Details tab, scroll to the Risk Assessment Properties section.
Core Template Information
At the top of the page, the template name and owner fields define who manages the record:
Label – The title of the risk assessment template. Choose a clear, descriptive name (e.g., Job Hazard Analysis).
Active – Indicates whether the template is currently available for use. Inactive templates cannot be selected when creating new assessments.
Owner – The user responsible for maintaining and updating the template. Typically assigned to an EHS Manager or System Administrator.
Risk Assessment Configuration Options
Below the owner field, several options determine how new risk assessments will be structured when launched from this template.
Step-Based Risk Assessment
Enable this option if the assessment should follow a step-by-step structure — for example, when breaking down a job or process into distinct tasks. This is common in Job Hazard Analyses, where each step may have different hazards and controls.
Pre-Populate Assessments with Template Hazards
When enabled, new assessments created from this template will automatically include the hazards that have been predefined under the template’s Hazard List tab. This saves time and ensures assessors evaluate consistent hazards across similar jobs, processes, or equipment.
For Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), this option is typically left unchecked. In JHAs, assessors are expected to identify only the hazards that are relevant to each step or task being analyzed. The process is exploratory — assessors document hazards as they are observed rather than reviewing a predefined list.
For other risk assessment types, pre-populating hazards can be highly beneficial. Some processes require assessors to review each defined hazard and confirm whether it applies. Examples include:
Facility Risk Assessments, where each site is evaluated against a consistent set of potential hazards (e.g., fire protection, chemical storage, ergonomics, electrical safety).
Process Safety Reviews, where predefined hazards related to energy isolation, chemical reactions, or equipment failure modes must be examined for applicability.
Equipment or Machinery Risk Assessments, where each piece of equipment is reviewed against a standardized hazard list (e.g., pinch points, hot surfaces, entanglement, high noise).
In these cases, enabling this setting ensures assessors consider every relevant hazard category systematically, rather than relying solely on observation or personal judgment.
Allow Multiple Instances of the Same Hazard
Enable this setting if the same hazard might appear more than once in an assessment. For instance, a process that repeats “manual lifting” at multiple stages may require separate evaluations of that same hazard under different conditions.
Each of these settings can be adjusted at any time. Updates take effect immediately for any new assessments created from the template (existing assessments remain unchanged).
Access Management
The Access Management section defines who can use the template, who can view assessments created from it, and what parts of the organization those assessments apply to.
Who Can Use This Template
The “Available to” setting controls which users can launch new risk assessments from this template. Options include:
All risk users – Any user with the Risk Management role can use this template.
Specific groups and users – Limit use to designated individuals or groups. When selected, you’ll see additional fields to specify which groups and users have access.
Private (template owner only) – Restricts access to the template owner.
Who Can View Assessments Created from This Template
Use the “Tasks available to” setting to define visibility for the risk assessments generated from this template. Options include:
Private (only task creators and assignees)
Shared with groups or individuals
Organization-wide visibility (depending on your access model)
Entity Access
The “Tasks available to entities” field defines which parts of your organization can use this template — for example, Zones, Processes, Assets, or Establishments. This ensures that assessments are only performed in the relevant context. For instance, an Equipment Risk Assessment template might be limited to Assets, while a Job Hazard Analysis might be available for Processes or Zones.
Best Practices
Use consistent configurations across templates wherever possible to simplify training and reporting.
Understand when to enable “Pre-populate with template hazards.”
Keep access limited — restrict template editing and use qualified risk professionals to maintain data integrity.
Review periodically — ensure settings continue to align with your organization’s assessment methodology and risk scoring framework.
By carefully configuring Risk Assessment Properties, Serenity administrators can ensure that every assessment created from a template follows a structured, consistent process — making it easier to manage, analyze, and improve safety performance across the organization.