Hello there, Your colleague should ask for a quote from the local firm and, for comparisons sake, from others too. Most people acting in a consultancy capacity will have a day or hourly rate and their price for the work will depend upon the size and scope of the job. But there are other reasons to ask for a quote too including: - 1. your colleague will be able to determine whether they're going to carry out the work in a proper manner; and 2. it becomes the yardstick against which the work can be judged on completion. If your colleague supposes that the local firm will come in, carry out the risk assessment, issue a record and then leave - you should advise him/her against this as he/she may be about to waste his/her money. A risk assessment is a careful and systematic examination of the work activities involved in the workplace. The assessment should involve the people who carry out the work amongst others. The consultants role should be to train and coach the client in the process of risk assessment so that the client has the understanding to know what to do and the ability to do it. IOSH provide a very useful guide outlining what you should expect from a consultant. I'd be happy to send you a copy at your request. Best regards, Michael http://www.securushealthandsafety.co.uk

Waring27480 Cannot give a definative answer as the amount of time the RA will take will depend upon the complexity and range of activeties/hazards present and I have seen Consultants day rates ranging from as low as £200 up to as much as £700. Steve

risk assessments should be carried out by the people who do the work, not outside consultants. This is the view of HSE. My advice would be: 1. Check out the HSE website for sample risk assessments to see if there are any that can be used to guide through the process, 2. Enlist the services of a risk assessment trainer who can teach the employees the risk assessment process, advice on record keeping, reviewing etc. etc. One day's training could cost £450.00? but will be invaluable in future as all risk assessments need to be reviewed depending upon circumstances. 3. If the two above are not practical then use an outside consultant but make sure it is one who will carry out the assessments alongside the workers and supervision. They can then pick up the methodology with a view to doing it themselves in future. I have recently had a fantastic success with a client who owns two betting shops. He asked me to do risk assessments for him last year and i did, with reports and described how to do it. I met him again this year to review them, discussed the method with him and he felt comfortable enough to do the reviews himself. That to me was a success. it may not bring in loads of dosh but I see that as good health and safety practice.

Quals Member of IOSH for starters With respects to members who have passed their nebosh IMHO suggest a Grad Dip OSH looking to train their safety reps up to nebosh level. Badger

Just to point out to those who think qualification/chartered status is required, it says in the Management Reg's ACOP (Reg 7 Guidance) Competence in the sense it is used in the regulations does not necessarily depend on particular skills or qualification. Some situations may require only an understanding of relevant current best practice; an awareness of one's own limitations and willingness and ability to obtain external help and advice. Wazimu Mzungu

D'NOW