MHI Risk Assessment in South Africa
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20+
years of experience
- Quantitative
Major Hazard Installation (MHI) Risk Assessments
Quantified. Defensible. Regulator-Ready.
If your facility stores, handles, produces, or processes dangerous substances, you do not simply need a generic risk assessment.
You require a legally compliant, technically defensible Major Hazard Installation (MHI) Risk Assessment (QRA) aligned with:
- SANS 1461 – Major Hazard Installation: Risk Assessment (QRA)
- Major Hazard Installation Regulations, 2022
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
- UN Classification (GHS / TDG – Orange Book)
- ALARP risk reduction principles
At MHI Risk Engineers, we deliver regulator-ready, quantitative MHI Risk Assessments that provide a clear, defensible view of your real risk profile — both onsite and offsite.
- Consequences and risks
Advanced Consequence & Risk Modelling
All modelling for the QRA is performed using internationally recognised specialist software:
✔ Gexcon EFFECTS
Used globally for advanced consequence modelling of:
- Vapour cloud explosions
- Pool and jet fires
- Flash fires
- Toxic gas dispersion
- Escalation and domino scenarios
EFFECTS is widely recognised in Europe, the UK (COMAH), and major LNG and petrochemical industries.
✔ Riskcurves
Used for:
- Individual risk contour generation
- Societal risk (FN curve) analysis
- Population exposure modelling
- Land-use planning evaluations
This ensures our quantitative results are:
- Scientifically robust
- Defensible
- Reproducible
- Internationally benchmarked
- Who needs this service
What Our MHI Assessment Covers
Our study is fully aligned with SANS 1461 – Major Hazard Installation: Risk Assessment (QRA), the governing South African standard for MHI studies. We assess:
- Fires (pool, jet, flash)
- Vapour cloud explosions
- Toxic gas releases
- Escalation and domino effects
- Individual and societal risk
- Impact zones and land-use sensitivity
- Off-site public exposure
- Worst-case and credible event scenarios
All outputs are structured for regulatory submission and executive-level decision-making.
- What we do:
Formal Deliverables
While each site is unique, our assessments follow a structured, defensible methodology designed for high-hazard operations.
01
MHI Classification
We formally determine whether your facility is:
- Low Hazard Establishment (LHE)
- Medium Hazard Establishment (MHE)
- High Hazard Establishment (HHE)
Classification is based on:
- Annexure A threshold quantities
- Aggregation rules
- Inventory verification
- Pipeline inclusion (where applicable)
02
Below-Threshold (Scenario 2) Evaluation
Even if your facility does not exceed threshold quantities, it may still be classified as an MHI if:
- Consequence modelling demonstrates harm to employees or the public
- Impact zones extend beyond your boundary
- A major incident could occur from process loss of control
We perform the necessary modelling to determine this exposure and provide a defensible regulatory position.
03
Quantified Risk & ALARP Demonstration
We provide:
- Individual risk contours
- Societal FN curves
- Public exposure assessment
- Vulnerable receptor evaluation
- ALARP justification
Risk levels are categorised as:
- Broadly Acceptable
- ALARP
- Intolerable
With proportionate, defensible risk reduction recommendations.
04
Emergency Planning Recommendations
Our study provides structured emergency planning inputs aligned with:
- SANS 1514 – Major Hazard Installation: Emergency Planning
- MHI Regulation requirements
- Local government coordination obligations
We identify:
- On-site preparedness measures
- Off-site coordination triggers
- Alert systems
- Evacuation zones
- Response escalation criteria
This ensures your risk study directly supports compliance and operational readiness.
- Certifications
Accreditation & International Recognition
We are:
- Approved by the Department of Employment and Labour as an Approved Inspection Authority (AIA MHI 0015)
- SANAS Accredited under ISO/IEC 17020
Recognised under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
What It Means To Be ILAC Accredited
ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) is the global authority overseeing international accreditation bodies.
Through SANAS accreditation under ISO/IEC 17020 and ILAC recognition:
- Our competence is internationally benchmarked
- Our inspection reports are recognised globally
- Our impartiality and independence are verified
- Our methodologies are subject to international peer oversight
- Our findings are accepted across ILAC member economies
In practical terms:
An ILAC-recognised accreditation means our reports carry international technical credibility and can withstand scrutiny from regulators, insurers, international partners, and multinational stakeholders.
This level of accreditation is reserved for inspection bodies that meet stringent global standards of:
- Competence
- Independence
- Impartiality
- Technical rigour
Why This Matters
Incorrect classification or weak modelling can result in:
- Enforcement action
- Licensing delays
- Land-use disputes
- Insurance complications
- Reputational exposure
We ensure your MHI position is:
- Technically defensible
- Legally structured
- Regulator-ready
- Internationally credible
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Get in touch with us
Reach out for any inquiries, support, or to discuss how we can meet your industrial needs.
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Contact us
FAQ: MHI Risk Assessment
What is MHI risk assessment?
An MHI risk assessment is a specialist assessment for a major hazard installation that evaluates the likelihood and consequences of major accident events (fires, explosions, toxic releases). It’s typically more rigorous than a general workplace risk assessment and often uses quantitative risk assessment (QRA) methods aligned to standards like SANS 1461.
What does MHI stand for in safety?
In this context, MHI stands for Major Hazard Installation—a site where hazardous substances and operating conditions create potential for major accident events affecting people, the public, or the environment.
What are the 4 types of risk assessment?
A practical grouping is:
- qualitative (descriptive, judgement-based)
- semi-quantitative (risk matrices/scoring)
- quantitative (numerical frequencies and consequence modelling, e.g., QRA)
- dynamic/continuous (updated as conditions change)
What are the 5 risk assessments?
People use “five risk assessments” in different ways, but common categories include:
- baseline/general risk assessment
- issue-based risk assessment
- task-based (job) risk assessment
- change risk assessment (MOC-related)
- major hazard / process safety risk assessment (like MHI/QRA)
What are the 5 P's of risk assessment?
A common “5 P’s” checklist is:
- People
- Plant
- Process
- Place
Product
It’s a useful way to ensure you’re not missing key risk drivers.
What is a MHI?
An MHI (Major Hazard Installation) is a facility where the presence and handling of hazardous substances can create the potential for major accidents (large fires, explosions, toxic releases). Whether a site qualifies depends on substance types/quantities, process conditions, and major hazard potential.
What is the MHI test?
“MHI test” can mean different things in different organisations. In practice, the “test” is usually whether a facility meets the criteria of an MHI under the relevant regulatory framework, and whether the risk is being assessed and controlled appropriately through an MHI risk assessment/QRA and supporting safety systems.
What does MHI do?
“MHI” as a term refers to a type of installation/facility, not a company action. A major hazard installation is a site where high-hazard activities occur. The key focus is ensuring major accident risks are identified, quantified, controlled, and documented.
Where is MHI Risk Engineers located?
We don’t list a physical address here because it should match the client’s official contact details exactly. The safe answer: MHI Risk Engineers operates in South Africa and supports clients nationally. For the confirmed office location and contact details, use the contact section on the company website.
What are the 4 P's in risk assessment?
A common “4 P’s” version is:
- People
- Plant
- Process
- Place
What tools are used for risk assessment?
Tools depend on the type of assessment. Examples include:
- HAZID / HAZOP (hazard identification)
- LOPA (layer of protection analysis)
- QRA (quantitative risk assessment)
- risk matrices for semi-quantitative assessment
bow-ties, fault trees, and event trees (scenario and barrier analysis)
For MHI risk assessment, the toolset typically includes QRA methods aligned to relevant standards.
What is a type 2 risk assessment?
“Type 2 risk assessment” is not universally defined and often depends on an internal company framework (some classify baseline vs issue-based vs task-based as types). If your organisation uses a specific “type 2” definition, the assessment can be aligned to that structure while still meeting MHI/QRA requirements.
What are the 5 main steps of a risk assessment?
A practical five-step approach:
- identify hazards and scenarios
- assess likelihood/frequency
- assess consequences
- evaluate risk and adequacy of controls
implement improvements and review
What is the MHI index?
“MHI index” can refer to different scoring/index approaches depending on the context (some are internal major hazard indicators). In formal MHI/QRA work, risk is usually expressed through scenario-based likelihood and consequence outputs rather than a single index number—unless a specific client/governance framework requires it.
What happens if you fail a risk assessment?
If a risk assessment shows controls are inadequate, the outcome should be a prioritised action plan—strengthening safeguards, improving procedures, upgrading systems, or changing operations to reduce risk to acceptable levels. The goal is not to “pass or fail,” but to identify what must change to prevent major incidents and meet governance/compliance expectations.
Get an MHI Risk Assessment
Ready to confirm whether your site meets Major Hazard Installation (MHI) requirements and what it will take to comply with the MHI Regulations 2022? Contact MHI Risk Engineers to book your MHI Risk Assessment — and get a clear, defensible report with practical actions to reduce risk and protect your operation. We also offer accredited process safety training to help your team maintain ongoing compliance