Hi all

I am currently reviewing the current RA policy however it appears I may be tasked with writing all risk assessments! However we presently employ up to 300 employees! With various departments and levels of managers

A brief overview is this:

Competence

Supervisors/managers have attended a recognised 3 day H+S course, and are also experienced in their work areas and processes

And have also been trained in 5 x 5 risk assessment matrix

In addition employees are attending a half day H+S course this is ongoing

Assessments

I would have thought managers/supervisors, in essence those who know their area of responsibility

I am hitting a brick wall; time should be made to complete assessment in each department


From experience who would you think should write assessments? It certainly does not seem feasible to be left on my shoulders besides anything else this is a mammoth task, plus if they where my risk assessments I would want to know that they in fact are adhered too and followed. I would have thought managers/supervisors, in essence those who know their area of responsibility


I am of the opinion that the assessment must be active, and for management not to lose the thought process, their is a clear danger of H+S becoming “somebody else’s responsibility”

In respect of the above what do you think would be the role of the H+S advisor? And subsequent sign off process, I am more than happy to meet with any mangers to assist coach and guide, tool box talks etc but they know their areas best of all

Best wishes

D

David

I have just been tasked with updating our risk assessment policy and firmly written into it is the requirment for risk assessments to be completed where possible by a competent team of individuals.

This means individuals trained in risk assessment, engineers, safety professionals, operators with experiance of the issue under assessment etc

I would be very supprised if you were even competent to have the burden of "all the risk assessments" landing on your lap.

It seems to me that there is some training required for the senior managers

I agree with Ray that the department manager should own and review all risk assessments for their area, but firmly belive you should be involved in assisting with each assessment undertaken if nothing else to guide them through what specific legislation may apply this would also be an opurtunity to coach and gain there thought process, i have seen previously where manager have written a risk assessment to suit the production needs and have clearly missed some significant hazards.

I found it a common fob off to appoint 1 person to carry out all RA's.

An appointed person to oversee and train on the RA programme is better with the RA's being carried out by yourself and a competent specialist from each section very much in a Behavioural Based Risk Assessment style it tends to cover more options and allows for a competent persons signature on the RA document.

Might be hard to organise and get approval for but the old slight mention of litigation is a trusted tool to use along with the facts about 'suitable and sufficient' one.