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Waring27480  
#1 Posted : 18 November 2009 09:05:37(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Waring27480

A colleague of mine (runs a fibreglass/carbon buisiness) requires a risk assessment to be done on his small factory. He intends to use a local H&S company to conduct the RA but he wants to know how much he would be expected to pay. Any ideas?
Michael Emery  
#2 Posted : 18 November 2009 09:34:09(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Michael Emery

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
ronofcam  
#3 Posted : 18 November 2009 09:36:39(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

A lot of variables here, but if it is a small factory then I'm guessing it could be done in a day, with another day to write up the report and devise control measures. I don't know how much local companies would charge, but I'd be surprised if the whole thing came to more than £800. That said, I don't know how many processes/people are in the 'small' factory, and it may be more. If there are only a handful of people and some rudimentary processes/substances then you shouldn't be stung for too much more than this, if at all.
smitch  
#4 Posted : 18 November 2009 09:37:45(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
smitch

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
Steve N  
#5 Posted : 18 November 2009 09:47:57(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

Why not suggest your friend attends the managing safely course and/or a risk assessment course.
firesafety101  
#6 Posted : 18 November 2009 10:04:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101

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.
Waring27480  
#7 Posted : 18 November 2009 11:13:37(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Waring27480

Gentlemen, thankyou for your advice and constructive suggestions. Since your replys I have contacted my freind and updated him accordingly. It transpires his company (part owner) is not as small as he first made me believe (450 employers). The company is in Dubai and although they have a H&S advisor (Indian chap) they dont have a policy statement, method statement, action plan or risk assessment between them. Whilst H&S is relatively new to the UAE (Dubai) I have advised my friend to act fast. Sack your current advisor and bring someone in who knows what there doing and is suitably qualified. Q. What is suitably qualified, NEBOSH? It sounds as if our conversation over a beer has opened a can of worms. Comments will be warmly received.
Barrie(Badger)Etter  
#8 Posted : 18 November 2009 12:17:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Barrie(Badger)Etter

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
David Bannister  
#9 Posted : 18 November 2009 14:38:30(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister

If manufacturing the fibreglass and carbon products there are likely to be significant health issues to be dealt with in addition to the more obvious safety ones, so the external expert should be a well-rounded individual able to recognise the real exposures.
wazimu0  
#10 Posted : 18 November 2009 15:09:49(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

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
firesafety101  
#11 Posted : 18 November 2009 16:02:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101

Who enforces health and safety in Dubai ?
Thompson26147  
#12 Posted : 18 November 2009 16:37:30(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Thompson26147

D'NOW
blodwyn  
#13 Posted : 19 November 2009 09:19:34(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
blodwyn

Have a look on the IOSH consultants page - not usre how many in Dubai but am sure many would like to go out and work for him!!!Risk assessments for such things could be quite complicated depending on the process but it is bound to also require COSHH (Dubai equivalent) assessment to look at styrene etc in the air and that is likely to be where the risk assessment then starts. As to the cost again would depend on the Dubai market
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