Posted By Ian
I work in a manufacturing environment and we carry out risk assessments on our machines and processes, but currently do not have any for common tasks like cleaning, boiling a kettle, washing windows etc.
I presume we really should carry these out. Does anyone have a list of risk assessments that should be performed in a factory environment or have completed generic risk assessments. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Posted By holmezy

Ian,

there's no need to do risk assessments on every common tasks. If its "a task associated with everyday life" ie boiling a kettle, then forget it. It is generally assumed (sometimes wrongly!) that the majority of folks know how to do this and the deal with the hazards involved. Agreed, some people will have accidents with the most simplest and common items ( I once managed to close the lid of a hot toastie maker whilst still having my fingers in it so I'm not perfect!) but its a learning process. Darwin had a theory about it,,,,
Stick to the significant risks associated with your working practises, ie machines, flt's, chemicals, work at height and others?


Holmezy

By the way, I'd had far too much beer when I toasted my fingers....

Anyone for a beer later?

Posted By Crim
Holmezy I disagree! What may be a common task to you may be a first time for somebody else?

I will add however that it is only the significant findings that need to be recorded therefore there are probably no recorded assessments for the tasks mentioned.

Posted By Ron Hunter
Window cleaning involving work at height, or where any cleaning activity has the potential to conflict with the everyday activities in the workplace, does need careful consideration, and risk assessment will be part of the process which arrives at a safe system of work.
Same would apply to maintenance activities (e.g. replacing overhead lights).
Issues around "boiling a kettle" should not IMHO require a risk assessment. Anything wrong (poor location, trailing flex. not tested, inappropriate connections, hygiene etc.) should all be spotted and dealt with via a process of regular Workplace Inspections.

Posted By holmezy

All,

Oh and by the way I'm assuming that when the origional poster says cleaning, boiling a kettle, washing windows etc, then cleaning is general housekeeping using a broom or cloth, boiling a kettle is for making a cup of tea ( assuming he gets the job Mitch) and cleaning windows is just running a damp cloth over a pane of glass whilst on ground level.



BUT......I might be wrong!

Holmezy

Pedigree and dry roasted nuts......mmmmhhh

Posted By Ian
Thanks for the many varied replies. Basically some people are saying risk assessments should be carried out for basic tasks and some are saying they shouldn't. What I'm trying to find out is, by law, do we have to carry these out. Surely there is an element of risk in boiling a kettle, therefore a risk assessment is required.

What about using handtools, powertools, roller doors, photocopiers ........

Or is it suffice to say we looked at these areas and deemed there was no significant risk.

Posted By holmezy
Ian,

from your list...

hand tools ie screwdrivers, hammers, spanners etc NO SPECIFIC RA

power tools ie electric drills, air guns, etc VERY SIMPLE AND BASIC RA

roller shutter (doors or blinds) NO RA

photocopier, NO RA.

Of course if you are using an electric drill in one hand whilst undoing a bolt with a spanner in the other hand, whilst up a ladder to repair the roller shutter door so that you can get the (oversize??) photocopier into the office, then perhaps the task will require a RA.

Probably no help...

Holmezy

liver flavoured pedigree....wonder if Marstons have thought of that before... or was it chicken flavouvered nuts, or chicken (surely cockerel) nuts?

Posted By Angus232
Refer to PUWER 98/LOLER 98 will give you a better idea of what is required.

Posted By GeoffB4
Isn't Pedigree dog food?

This question reminds me of when COSHH first arrived and my boss started to assess table salt.

It's a line that generally comes with experience but needs to be tempered with a practical and pragmatic attitude. We see everyday examples where 'professionals' go over the top.

1) A photocopier would be risk assessed by the maintenance company for their employees - because there is a significant risk when servicing it. It would not need to be assessed under normal office conditions for users but in extreme cases may need a COSHH assessment in terms of ozone emissions.

2) Boiling water in normal kitchen type areas would not generally need an assessment. Likewise fixed urns. But I see lengthy assessments on this type of task - who reads them?

3) The HSE have examples of risk assessments that put it all in perspective. Look at the one on woodworking machinery (make sure you take in the concept and the content) and you'll see it is the important aspects that are covered - they don't get lost in detail.

Posted By GeoffB4
Mike, the guy is looking for some help, is that a problem?


I'm not familiar with the term 'significant hazard', could you elaborate?

Posted By holmezy

all,


OK....I concede. We dont have enough information as to what sort of power tool is being used, by whom, under what circumstances etc so its difficult to give the exact answer.
Similarly, the window. Is it a roof window, low window, high window, opening, fixed removable etc etc.
If the process of RA's was that simple then none of us would need any training and could just sit at our desk filling out forms without actually looking at the task, ( bet thats rumbled some of you!!)

Going back to the origional post and in in very general terms, I wouldn't do RA's for the items mentioned. Far more important things to do and its expected that most people have developed and still operate under a modicum of common sense. Occasionally someone will forget his life skills and put his hand in the steam generated by the kettle but that doesnt make it a significant risk, it just means Darwin had got it about right in his natural selection and evolution theory.


Holmezy

Pedigree is one of the finest ales in UK and possibly the best thing to come out of Burton on Trent... so there....chum!

Posted By CFT
Ian

'We' can get a bit carried away with what is a significant hazard or risk because of the profession we have chosen to work in. If we were to visit premises it would be quite simple to do nothing but assessments of risk by associated hazards all day long. This would IMO belittle the very teachings we have been through and again, IMO would be about as much use as that old chocolate teapot.

What we do is think carefully about risk, but not go overboard on what should be risk assessed and what should not; taking a sensible and reasonable approach is all that is required and clearly if boiling a kettle in your place of work has caused injury (perhaps on more than one occasion) you need to look at a risk assessment; there will be a reason and it is the control measures you have in place that will require review; that sloping surface, the slippery floor, the loose handle etc, simple control measure, buy a new kettle, remove 40 years worth of plastic seal from the floor and either relocate the kettle or put a new level work surface in. Your efforts will have removed the risk of boiling the kettle and the need for a RA, you see it wasn't really the kettle in the first place.

My thoughts on risk are probably very different to your own and I cant criticise you, I can only ask that you look at it in a different light; tasks that one tends to do everyday like boiling and using a kettle should not present any kind of significant risk, anymore than licking an envelope, yes, I have seen many tongue paper cut RA's over the years, get self adhesive and eliminate that one for sure.

This link is from here on 'significant', have a read through for some thought provoking ideas;

http://www.iosh.co.uk/in...iew&forum=1&thread=33730

When you think of a significant hazard, the electricity leading to the kettle is one such example; the risk however is exceptionally low, providing basic conditions have been met such as, earthed metal casings and the live components are fully insulated; so whilst the potential hazard could indeed be significant the level of risk is’ insignificant’ and will not on this occasion, provided there are no other mitigating circumstances require a risk assessment.

I have focused on the kettle to give you some idea of how I perceive this kind of risk and what action I would take. Please forgive me if I have attempted to get you to 'suck eggs' this was sincerely not my intention; I just wanted to give you an idea on how easy it is to comply with regulation 3 of the management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations.

CFT

Posted By Chris Packham
Who said anything about drinking tea? At least one constituent of a cup of tea carries the risk phrase R22 - harmful if ingested! Risk assessment anyone?

Chris

Posted By holmezy
Geoff,

I dunno,,,,, another kettle perhaps?

You're probably right, to much Pedigree may be addling my brain. I'm off to the pub now to test the theory. If anyone wants to join me. I'll be the one at the bar, twitching and talking gibberish.

cheers all

Holmezy