I have been asked to conduct a risk assessment for someone returning to work after 11months away the reason is the person suffered a brain aneurysm. I am not sure a standard work risk assessment will achieve the best result. I am of the feeling that a risk assessment of this nature should be handled by a occupational health nurse. does anyone have experience with this as this is the first time i have been asked to conduct this type of risk assessment.

It really needs an assessment from someone that understands the the medical condition of the patient ie an OCC Health Physician. Symptoms and recovery will differ from patient to patient and with this condition it is important that an Occ Health professional helps with the return to work planning. The range of symptoms can have serious safety implications to the individual and colleagues; dependant on the workplace and tasks. eg Peripheral vision deficits Speech complications Perceptual problems Sudden changes in behavior Loss of balance and coordination Decreased concentration Short-term memory difficulty Fatigue Steve

Surely "Risk Assessment" is the incorrect term here. Fitness for work,capability and reasonable adjustments all discussed with the employee in conjunction with relevant medical experts, including immediate occupational health referral.

Whats the hazard is a question you should ask

Certainly Ron, Occupational Health Providers (OHPs) approved by competency levels set by HSE - Refer to http://www.hse.gov.uk/co...thrisks/competencies.htm And OHPs / Medical Practitioners (MPs) approved by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) - Refer to http://www.pml-solas.org...ls%20doctors%20list.pdf. Sorry I should have made clearer in earlier post - We have been asked on several occasions by pertainent external regulatory bodies to demonstrate OHP / MP competence. We tend to use an independant HSE/MCA approved OHP and at times MCA NHS approved GP both of which commonly use the term Risk Assessment when discussing return to work issues. I assummed that the term was common place as I have heard it said on many occasions. Hope the above helps. GC

Thanks for all the reply's, i will take the information on board and even contact the first reply to develop information further. regards Roland

Ron I agree with you about the problems of differing meanings of the term "risk assessment". Picking up on other comments, plus those elsewhere, I fear that H&S practitioners will increasingly be drawn into return to work cases where some bright spark has used the all-purpose get out of jail card that reads "do a risk assessment" on the fit note without giving the reason why or any indication of the nature of the risk that they envisage. Let's all hum the lyrics to "it all makes work for the working man to do". Or am I being too cynical this morning? Joking apart, is anyone aware of any properly set up and funded study of implementation of the new fit note scheme? Jim

Ron: Our OHP is approved through the competency levels set by the HSE and much more stringently by the MCA. These levels are not 'suggested'. As I said earlier, my post could have been clearer so no need for me to keep clarifying the situation. As for the term 'Risk Assessment' I really fail to see the issue - We also carry out Environmental Risk Assessments and Corporate Risk Assessments - Health and Safety operatives do not own the term and never have to my knowledge. Not really worthy of any further comment. Its just a process of assessing risk irrespective of origin. Chow GC