Critical Risk Management Fundamentals
Participants leave with a clear picture of how critical risk management works, what an effective programme looks like in practice, and a concrete plan for what to build, improve, or strengthen in their own organisation.
- Duration
- 1 Day
- Topic
- Critical Risk Management
- Next session
- 10 Nov 2026 · 4 dates
At a glance
Course details
Duration: 1 day
Overview
Critical Risk Management Fundamentals course overview
Not all risks are equal. Critical risks are the ones where, if the right critical controls aren't in place every time, people can be seriously injured or killed. Managing them well requires more than good intentions — it requires a clear framework, people who know what they're doing, and the discipline to keep checking that controls are actually working. This one-day workshop gives health and safety managers, executives, and operational leaders the grounding they need to do that well.
We don't do death by PowerPoint lectures. Our experienced health and safety professionals take participants through critical risk management from the ground up — building from why critical risks demand a different approach, through identifying and assessing them, selecting and verifying critical controls, to putting together a practical implementation plan. Group activities and discussion keep the learning connected to real workplace challenges throughout.
IMPAC's focus is on building genuine understanding of critical risk management — not just familiarity with a process. Participants leave with a clear picture of how critical risk management works, what an effective programme looks like in practice, and a concrete plan for what to build, improve, or strengthen in their own organisation.
Curriculum
What you'll cover
This workshop is designed for:
- Health and safety managers and general managers responsible for developing, overseeing, or improving a critical risk programme.
- Executives and senior operational leaders who want a solid understanding of how critical risk management works and what it requires to function well.
- Operational leaders in corporate organisations directly involved in implementing or supporting critical risk management across their part of the business.
Our approach
+IMPAC's Critical Risk Management Fundamentals training approach
IMPAC delivers Critical Risk Management Fundamentals as a working session built around doing, not listening. Our experienced health and safety professionals take participants through critical risk management from first principles — starting with what it is and why it matters, building through risk identification, control selection, and verification, to reviewing how the pieces connect and what a complete programme looks like in practice.
Group activities and discussion are used throughout to keep the learning grounded in real workplace challenges. The day is structured so each element builds on the last, giving participants a complete picture by the end. Structured time towards the close of the day is spent developing a practical implementation plan that participants can take back to work and act on.
Format
Course format and duration
Upcoming sessions
Public courses – Book now
Want to discuss running Critical Risk Management Fundamentals at your organisation?
Enquire nowFAQ
Frequently asked questions
Critical Risk Management is the process of identifying critical risks, determining critical controls, implementing them, and ensuring they remain in place and working — forever. It's the ongoing discipline behind protecting people from risks that could cause catastrophic or life-changing harm, going beyond a one-off assessment to make sure the right controls stay effective for as long as the risk exists.
This course is aimed at health and safety managers and general managers responsible for developing, overseeing, or improving a critical risk programme, executives and senior operational leaders who want a solid understanding of how critical risk management works, and operational leaders in corporate organisations directly involved in implementing or supporting it across their part of the business. It's especially useful for anyone who needs a clear, practical picture of what an effective critical risk programme requires — whether they're building one from scratch or strengthening what's already in place.
There's no requirement for every leader to complete this specific course. But organisations still need people who understand critical risk management — how it works, and what it takes to identify, control, and keep managing critical risks effectively. That's becoming more clearly defined, with the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 requiring businesses to identify their critical risks and review controls for them more rigorously from 1 April 2027. Many organisations already expect this level of understanding from their leaders.
The course runs for 1 day, allowing learners to work through critical risk identification, control selection, verification processes, and the development of a practical implementation plan for their organisation.
Yes, this course is available for both public and in-house delivery. In-house training can help organisations build a more consistent understanding of critical risk management and implementation processes across teams.
For public face-to-face courses, morning tea and lunch are provided. If you have specific dietary requirements such as allergies, vegan, or gluten-free needs, please contact IMPAC at training@impac.co.nz at least two working days before training. Please note that dietary preferences cannot be accommodated.
Pricing depends on the delivery method.
In-house: $4750 + GST for up to 12 persons, with additional persons charged at $349 + GST each (maximum of 16).
Public (face-to-face): $495 + GST per person.
Continue learning
Further study options
If you’re continuing your learning journey in health and safety, you can progress to the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. This globally recognised qualification provides a strong foundation in health and safety management and is relevant across a wide range of industries.
This course builds on your existing knowledge and supports the development of practical skills in risk management, workplace safety systems, and international best practice, while remaining applicable within the New Zealand context. View NEBOSH International General Certificate course details and enrol.
The NEBOSH International General Certificate is awarded by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), an internationally recognised awarding body for health, safety, and environmental qualifications.
What's next
Next steps
To get started, you can book now.
To explore more courses in this area, see the Critical Risk Management category.
This course is a strong fit for organisations that want a solid foundation in how critical risks and critical controls are identified before building out the rest of their programme. It can also sit alongside Critical Control Verification for the frontline skills to check those controls in the field, or Critical Risk Programme Governance for a leadership-level view of how it all comes together.
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