Posted By Chris Pope
Dear Trucker.

The Management regulations require that any risk assessment must be suitable and sufficient.

Although the users of this website, who take a keen interest in risk assessment are mostly folk who have taken an exam in safety, we still find time to ask one another about what is suitable and sufficent.

I think it is safe to assume that some training is necessary.

Posted By Lewis T Roberts
I can’t entirely agree with the sentiment. We all carry out risk assessment on a subconscious daily basis such as crossing the road.

The best person to carry out an initial assessment is that person who is directly involved with the activity. There will be a need for guidance to comply with current legislation and good practice as far as the control measures are concerned.

Ultimately task oriented risk assessments, in order to be suitable and sufficient, should at a final stage be a group activity.

If operatives are involved in the process they are more likely to buy into the control measures. Lets face it, it is not brain surgery.

Lew

Posted By Gavin
Risk assessments should be carried out by a competent safety person, in tandem with a persom deemed competent to complete the task. the reality is that if the assessment is completed solely by a safety practitioner then they may miss out some of the detail of completing the task and if it is completed by the person who normally carries out the task then they may miss out the hazards.

The original question asked about the issue of a non-competent person acrrying out the task. the duty of completing a suitable and sufficient assessment lies with management. If a supervisor knowingly signs off a risk assessment that is completing by a person who is not competent then they may have failed to complete a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, as required by the management regs, etc. As always, vicariuos liability on the company may be a factor.

Hope this helps.