Posted By Graham Carson Hi All Can anyone tell me what the HSE official line is regarding H&S Consultants doing clients risk assessments for them. I know what the Management regs says and i appreciate that HSE want companies to take ownership of their own H&S but does anyone know of any formal documentation that clearly states H&S Consultants should NOT do client's Risk assessments. Thanks

Posted By Ian G Hutchings Graham It is down to company directors to have in place suitable and sufficient risk assessments. They have to ensure that the person who does them is competent and that the people who do the work are fully aware of the hazards and safe working practices. It doesn't really matter whether the person conducting the assessment is internal or external. The quality of the assessment and more importantly the involvement of those who do the work is crucial. In my experience the HSE will look at the quality of what is in place and the actual working practices that fully reflect the assessment of risk. I have seen risk assessments by both internal and external people that are totally woeful. All the best Ian

Posted By DaveW In my experience; a consultant might be just as qualified to perform risk assessment within a company as a company employee depending upon that consultants level of expertize in a particular field. I use consultants that have considerable experience in my field of work, horses for courses and all of that. Within the company that I work for, I have performed something like 1000 risk assessments during the course of the last ten years or so and I've designed around 150 safe systems of work subsequent to risk assessment. In this same period, consultants have performed around 300 risk assessments, often replicating some of my work and sometimes adding to my work but, I think without exception, backing up my work. Consultants have acted as a good "back-up" throughout this period; recognising areas of risk that a pair of "out-side" eyes see that possibly "too-familiar" eyes might occasionally miss. I've also found, consistently, that risk assessment as performed by consultants invariably backs up my own recommendations to managing directors on those occasions where they doubt the validity of my assessment and the subsequent recommendation. It never hurts to have a bit of back-up does it? as long as our assessments are valid then we can only gain from the addition of qualified and competent assessment and advice from external sources. I'm not aware of any documentation indicating that evaluation of risk by consultants is less effective or appropriate than evaluation of risk by a competent company employee per se. Surely though, this is a matter for common sense. Of course there will be many company activities that I understand better than an external consultant. There will also be some areas that an external consultant may have either better knowledge or experience in than myself. Working together with consultants though, giving them the information that they need to make valid assessment and then drawing informed decisions subsequent to their recommendations, for me, this is the way forward. I see absilutely no reason why we need to choose one over the other when both can work more effectively together.

Posted By TBC In my consultancy days and indeed in my employed positions I always involved local H&S reps and or managers in the risk assessment process. That way you get a view from all angles and you can give guidance throughout the work.

Posted By DaveW Hello Ron, The duty and responsibility remain with the employer, the method though; may surely be a matter of informed choice.

Posted By Graham Carson thanks for all the responses everyone. Graham