Any comments on this latest offering from HSE? I had a quick look and was as underwhelmed as I was for their 'office risk assessment' (for which I filled in their feedback form). One of the problems I've noticed is that the tool happily presents you with an incomplete assessment at the end e.g. I deliberately tested it by saying I had asbestos, and that nothing needed doing and so that's what went onto the form (I know this doesn't look good if anyone actually reads the final risk assessment, but surely it would be good to have the system come up with a 'flag' about this?). Anyway, particularly if you're in education, please give it a go and give HSE some feedback - after the latest Lord Young fiasco I'm losing the will to!

Steve - just one point: it's for a classroom, not an office. But that aside, one could ask 'why do you need one?' If I was advising a School, I wouldn't tackle the subject of management of asbestos by risk assessing in a piecemeal classroom-by-classroom way: what next: 'HSE Risk Assessment of a broom cupboard' I thought we'd moved away from risk assessing 'rooms' and inanimate 'objects'...and should be looking at activities

This all about context I think. I can see the risk that some will see this as the answer, the whole answer. Certainly that is what many with an H&S background will assume is the error with this approach. Not comprehensive enough, doesn't cover all the bases etc, how can you assess a single classroom. For me it is what I refer to as a workplace hazard checklist to me. A form of risk assessment based o checking that common controls are actually in place rather than assessing what controls may be needed (or meet sfarp). I see these every day and they are usually presented by SME and front line staff as "this is how we risk assess". They are used by non safety staff to assess their local working environment. For most organisations, the technical standards and are defined and managed elsewhere. Whether it is correct to label this as a "risk assessment" is debatable but it will be recognised as such by many outside the hallowed ranks. In the right context it is a very useful little tool that if used in enough places will improve workplace safety far more than all the technical, comprehensive risk assessments that are currently required to be completed, often very poorly, by front line staff. I agree that some form of default to "action must be taken" is always good if it can be built into such checks. And yes there are one or two areas that could be improved or added. Nonetheless, for me, this approach to simple workplace level assessment is a welcome addition to the tools being provided by the HSE. This is only a beta version for comment so fill your boots guys and gals; tell the HSE what they need to think about before they publish the user version. p48

Smaller offices a low risk environment? - Please think again as its usually the smaller office / company where the office staff get involved with everything especially lifting and handling I am confident that such examples were a kneejerk reaction and if tested in a proper court would have many holes discovered therein - what they do is leave us professionals with yet another mountain to climb

Quote=mattyturton]I work in a school and have asked all of the teaching staff to complete this and return it to me, not for use as a risk assessment but more an opinion poll of what they think about the work place, what they think is being done correctly and what they would like to see more of. I feel it is a good tool for promoting safety, but risk assessments are still done and reviewed in a more thorough and individual way. I am literally using it to put safety on peoples minds!

Teachers are very well educated intelligent adults and go through a great deal training throughout their careers on a wide range of subjects including classroom health & safety. They have responsibility for HS as the front line supervisor. We have trust in teachers to safely supervise our children throughout the day in a classroom. Surely we can expect teachers to be able to conduct a simple risk assessment in a low risk environment that they are familiar with, giving a little instruction and guidance using the tool proposed by the HSE. I would though like to see risk assessments approved by the Head. As a HS Professional and consultant I prefer to give clients the tools for them to be able to conduct their own simple risk assessments where I know that they have the capability to do this. My aim is to develop their Health & Safety Management and assist them with more complex problems Steve

quote=mattyturton]I feel it is a good tool for promoting safety, but risk assessments are still done and reviewed in a more thourough and individual way. I am literally using it to put safety on peoples minds!

Nothing about fire or personal safety, both of them big issues for education. Fire, OK, in the office assessment HSE got it badly wrong, so maybe it's wise to leave it out, but personal safety could and should have been included, John

I note there has been no response yet by any members of the Education Group - may be they know the truth and that teachers believe they know everything and can be trusted. Remember it was a teacher (ex journelist) who started the bonkers conkers story. Working alone during summer breaks, standing wobbling on kiddies chairs on desks so that they can festoon paper all over the classroom (including the call points, fire signage etc), I can assure you that schools are anything but safe by nature they rely heavily on H&S Professional guidance.

redken, If only. Foundation, VA and Foundation Special Schools are the employer with everything and duty that implies. Community, VC and Community Special Schools remain the enployees of the LA. THe pupils in all of these are at a maintained school. I advise and audit Community,VC etc as they are Council employees as the Councils Safety Advisor. I only audit Foundation, VA etc as I am not a consultant to a 3rd party. I often find these schools with good OFSTED reports and no control under IRR Regs or COSHH details for Chems, Plaster of Paris, unguarded machine tools etc etc. When I ask who is the Competent Advisor under Reg 7 I get taken to the untrained Premises Officer who keeps the bleach and ladders. Wait for Acadamies and Free Schools! Remember the Bonkers Conkers Story came from a school Head. The HSE distance themselves from schools and visit them infrequently, the current trawl re asbestos in schools being an exception. Parents often don't realise that their kids are being managed by willing amateurs and academic based Heads. Often well meaning but also ignorant of best safety practice. As an example if a school asbestos register shows presence then all employees likely to be exposed should receive training - ask a Teacher next time if they know where their register is.