The Startup Risk Management Training Course by The British Academy For Training and Development provides comprehensive knowledge and practical skills for identifying, assessing, controlling, and mitigating risks during the startup and initial operational phases of industrial facilities, projects, and systems. The course focuses on Startup Risk, operational risk assessment, startup hazards, process safety, operational controls, and effective mitigation strategies.

As part of the Operations Readiness and Assurance Training courses specialization and the Engineering Maintenance and Operation category, this programme explores structured risk management practices that support safe and reliable startup activities. Participants will develop the ability to recognise emerging risks, establish operational controls, coordinate readiness activities, and apply mitigation measures that strengthen operational performance and safety.

• Understand the fundamental principles of Startup Risk management.
• Identify and evaluate common startup hazards and operational risks.
• Apply systematic risk assessment techniques during startup activities.
• Develop effective process safety and operational control measures.
• Establish appropriate risk mitigation and contingency strategies.
• Strengthen operational readiness and startup assurance processes.
• Improve coordination between engineering, maintenance, safety, and operations teams.
• Support safer and more reliable facility and system startup.
• Monitor changing risks throughout commissioning and startup phases.
• Develop practical approaches for managing residual and emerging risks.

Target Audience

• Operations and Maintenance Managers
• Operations Readiness Professionals
• Startup and Commissioning Managers
• Engineering and Maintenance Personnel
• Process Safety Professionals
• HSE and Risk Management Specialists
• Project Managers and Project Engineers
• Plant Operations Supervisors
• Asset Integrity Professionals
• Reliability and Maintenance Engineers
• Facility and Production Managers
• Professionals responsible for operational assurance and startup activities

Module 1: Fundamentals of Startup Risk Management

• Introduction to Startup Risk
• Risk management principles
• Startup and operational risk environments
• Risk ownership and accountability
• Relationship between readiness and risk management

Module 2: Startup Hazards Identification and Assessment

• Identifying startup hazards
• Hazard identification techniques
• Risk registers and risk categorisation
• Risk assessment methodologies
• Critical startup risk scenarios
• Dynamic risk assessment during startup

Module 3: Process Safety During Startup

• Process safety fundamentals
• Process safety risks during commissioning and startup
• Safety-critical systems and barriers
• Permit-to-work considerations
• Emergency preparedness and response
• Preventing process safety incidents

Module 4: Operational Controls and Risk Mitigation

• Establishing operational controls
• Control measures and risk reduction
• Mitigation hierarchy
• Procedures, checklists, and operating limits
• Contingency planning
• Managing residual risk

Module 5: Startup Readiness and Assurance

• Startup readiness assessment
• Readiness criteria and verification
• Systems completion and handover
• Operational readiness reviews
• Assurance of safety-critical activities
• Gate review and approval processes

Module 6: Managing Startup Risk in Engineering and Maintenance

• Maintenance-related startup risks
• Equipment readiness and reliability
• Mechanical and electrical risks
• Inspection and testing requirements
• Deficiency and punch-list management
• Maintenance controls during startup

Module 7: Risk Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

• Monitoring startup risk indicators
• Managing emerging risks
• Incident and near-miss learning
• Corrective and preventive actions
• Risk communication and escalation
• Continuous improvement of startup controls

Module 8: Practical Startup Risk Management Application

• Developing a startup risk register
• Assessing representative startup scenarios
• Selecting operational controls
• Designing mitigation measures
• Conducting startup risk reviews
• Practical case studies and exercises