Posted By CW Stick a pin in the building contractor section of the yellow pages.

Posted By alan brotherton I would say that in my experience and opinion, a perfect example of a "bad" risk assessment is any which refer to general safety guidance in terms of a control measure without actually specifying if that safe practice is actually in place at the time of assessment. The previous example of "PPE should be worn" is a good example. This is useless in risk assesment if stated in the context of identifying control measures in place. A "good" risk assessment should identify hazards and quantify the level of risk but in doing so it must make reference to what control measures are actually in place at the time - NOT what should be happeneing in an ideal world. As an example, the assesment may read - control measures in place: NONE EVIDENT (or detail the controls that are already in place) and any reference to required controls, general safety guidance or what should actually be happening would be made in the recommendations to reduce risk section of the assessment. I also find it useful to give risk rating values to (A) "as assessed" risk level and (B)expected level after recommended controls have been introduced. Obviously the greater the difference between A and B, the greater the risk reduction.

Posted By Mike Craven Types of Risk Assessments in common use, but shouldn't be: • ARCHEOLOGICAL - covered in layers of dust and dirt, haven't seen the light of day for years. Requests to consult them result in lengthy digging in remote unpopulated areas. • VIRGIN - untouched by the hand of man. Designed by a committee, typed, copied and distributed by a secretary, received and immediately filed unread by another secretary. • TIME-WORN - covered in dirty fingerprints and coffee stains, heavily creased, always incomplete and out-of-date. These will be the only procedures known to employees and probably followed by them. Mike