Posted By Richard Altoft
Needs skills in dynamic risk assessment to make decisions in each case. No blanket opinion can be given, this is much like a fire brigade situation when basically as they draw up at each fire or disater the person in charge has to say "can we tackle this with reasonable certainty of remaining safe with the training and equipment we have - if not then what do we do to decrease the risks" Sometimes that means the public have to wait to be rescued - it is in no ones interests and especially not the person awaiting help if the rescuers become casualties themselves or in due course leave the service prematurely
R

Posted By sagalout
Paula, for me it is clear that staff should only enter premises when they consider it safe for them to do so. Their employer should ensure that they are adequately trained and have proven, or perhaps I mean tested, skills at making those dynamic assessments.
My personal example of some years ago was about emergency glaziers attending call outs often in the small hours and often in high risk social areas. After doing all the technical type risk assesssment stuff and recording it for the lawyers and HSE inspectors, we then set out a series of risk checks that were used to guide the on-site asssessment which contained control measures such as fall back arrangements for abandoning the site or calling for back up of some description. (e.g only attend if police on site, adopt protective measures for drug paraphernalia before entry.) This way the pressure that can be placed on staff to carry on in those situations is at least mitigated to a reasonable level.
We then trained, actually just allowed them to practice, in pre-arranged dynamic situations until they were confident and we were satified that they understood the principles.
One interesting thing that came out of the exercise was that the glaziers themselves suggested that a "white board" be fitted into the vans with a copy of the checks (including an area for the unexpected before the anti-checklist brigade get their fingers going) on it so that the assessment was recorded on site for the period of the works. Probably not really necessary but their view was writing something down always help to reduce the risk of overlooking something,stops you rushing in withiout taking time to think and there is an on-site record for someone following on behind if you are not there for whatever reason.

Posted By sagalout
R, thanks for the comment, nice to get some positive feedback. Encourages me to stay posting responses.

regards
Pete ('cos I know you do not really like aliases)

Posted By jackw.
Hi. he dilema we in Social Care face daily..statutory duty to care for the client vs need to protect staff. probably not the best answer but as has been said you need to do a risk assessment..is the risk tolerable? if not then remember that, unlikethe view of many senior staff, field workers are not imune to injury and should have their H&S protected same as any other worker. In essence you will stand or fall by the basic premise "is it a reasonable instruction to ask them to go into the property? Also consider in the assesment is there a real risk or a percieved risk. We often get workers making an issue of risk that really isn't there or is much lower level than they percieve. You should also, as has been stated enlist the assistance of other specialist re the actual state of the property. Remember too safe access and egrees is an essential of H&S regulation.

hope this helps