It should be emphasised that risk assessment differs from the HRIA. A risk assessment is focused on predicting the future occurrence of events and the associated implications for the business. The HRIA differs from this by focusing on actual and potential impacts on rights-holders, rather than risks. For further information on what an HRIA is, you can read this article.
Potential risks to be considered in the assessment by companies can be categorised in the following categories:
Labour Rights. These include the following aspects: terms of employment, wages and work hours, workplace discrimination, forced and bonded labour, youth and child labour, and health and safety.
Environmental Rights. These capture the following: pollution and toxic or hazardous chemicals, and land use and property rights.
Voice and Participation. These focus on inclusivity and participation, community impacts, and privacy.
Gender Equality. This includes both gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment.
Product Development, Advertising, Use of Products and Services. These focus on: product testing, advertisement, marketing and intellectual property, and unlawful, harmful or discriminatory use of products or provision of services.
Governance and Security. The last category captures: misuse of government authority, and security.