Posted By cara I have introduced a new process for Health and Safety Assessments throughout my organisation using a whole workplace format and then carrying out separate assessments where necessary for things like Manual Handling and DSE etc. That’s the easy bit out of the way – as I have H&S experience, however I now have to set up a system for assessing Organisational and Business risks such as: Policy Control and Development Security Waste Management Audit Training Communication Financial Emergency Planning IT Systems Complaints and Claims I would like to keep things simple so that staff can have their input. I don’t have much experience on these types of risks so I would really appreciate any advice/comments people have to offer as a starting point!!

Posted By ChrisB You could always consider, in addition to your list - premises, employment, fleet.

Posted By Tony Brunskill Cara, I have done some work on this in the past. I advocate the same approach as you have adopted for H&S. i.e Site Wide followed by more detailed investigation of particular issues identified. If you would like some info on how this can work in practice drop me an email. Regards Tony

Posted By Merv Newman Kieran, a very good point "loss of management time" I have often had the reaction from managers : "you only want two minutes of my time. I am being 2-minuted to death !" And you can understand as everyone starts by "you got a couple of minutes, boss ?" But, as you imply, management/supervisory time is one of the big indirect costs of an injury. An accident inquiry will take about an hour. With 6, 7 or 8 people involved. That is a working day for which the cost is calculated not on wages but on how much it costs to care and feed for an employee. (renting the building, lights, toilets, locker rooms, water etc. etc.) Then you have all the administrative duties of reporting and writing up and organising corrective and preventative measures. I could go on for hours (and frequently do) Cara, Depending on your business, how do you keep it going in case of a disaster ? Do you have alternative manufacturing or service facilities arranged ? Alternative suppliers ? Emergency contact with your clients ? In fact, how do you manage the disaster when the whole plant is burning down in front of your eyes ? have you thought about food and drink for your emergency team ? How long do you keep staff at the assembly points before you send them home ? Have you organised an off-site control center ? andsoonandsonandsoon Sorry, but this is a deep subject and without knowing more about the context I don't think we can offer much practical guidance. I could go on for hours (and frequently do) If you have a more specific problem please e-mail me. I've done so many "emergency plans" that my eyeballs ache. Do you, for example, have a battery powered torch in your emergency kit ? And how do you keep the TV reporters out ? I could go on for hours (and frequently do) Merv

Posted By Colin R. I. Stokes Hi. Don't forget to look at other businesses around you. We have twice been prevented from attending our offices due to emergencies in other buildings -Fire in a archive facility closed whole business estate-- Bomb threat to a sensitive business evacuated for several hours. Colin