Rank: Forum user 
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I have been tasked to conduct a risk assessment on a tanker driver who suffers from arthritis, does anybody have any advice on how to conduct the risk assessment?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Michael
Presumably the purpose of the assessment is to determine whether or not the driver's arthritis significantly impairs his/her ability to drive the tanker. The factors which need to be considered include the following: Who is alleging/stating that the driver has arthritis and why? Does he/she actually have arthritis or perhaps some other condition? Which part/s of his/her body are affected and to what extent? Will the condition get worse and at what likely rate? Does the driver take any medication for the condition and, if so, could it have any bearing on driving ability? Ultimately, are there reasonable grounds for removing the driver be removed from driving or be subject to limitations e.g. about driving hours, etc?
Therefore, unless you've got appropriate medical knowledge and experience, I think you should advise whoever asked you to make the risk assessment that it is really a job for a suitably experienced occupational health person. Though OS&H people can be considerably eclectic (i.e. draw on different disciplines in their work), this case could be an example of someone who erroneously thinks that OS&H people can do anything and everything they are asked to do! Alternatively, it might stem from a desire to save money by not involving an occupational health person!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree entirely with Graham's summary.
As an arthritis sufferer may I add that the wide day-to-day or week-to-week variation in symptoms, from a minor niggle to significant mobility or functional impairment - neck, spine, hands, hips, knees or feet etc - make it wise to engage with the individual.
They know now, or will learn, how the various arthritides affect them and how successful are medications in achieving and maintaining some degree of remission. Work closely with them.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Advice:- refer to a qualified medical practitioner. A "risk assessment" of what, exactly? Beware of being used as part of a method of justification - whether to carry on regardless, or to declare an employee unfit.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Great info already provided; and for my bit; -
This is a joint action by an experienced H&S facilitator with experience of ergonomics and similar areas and a professional OH specialist along with other experts as identified during the process and with 'proper' and 'frank' input by production and HR
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Rank: Forum user
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Thank you to everyone for their reply. I have conducted the risk assessment, observing and engaging with the driver during his day's work. I have taken into consideration his medication, job factors, vehicle factors. He drives a manual and struggles when changing gear, pain to the left shoulder and left leg. He used to drive an automatic and seemed to have less pain, the automatic caught fire and was a write off (I attended the scene of the fire). The vehicles are leased, it may be prudent to enquire on whether we can easily change back to an automatic.
Kind Regards
Michael
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Rank: Super forum user
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Michael
From your extra information at #6, it looks as though you've done tackled the matter in an appropriately professional manner by riding with and discussing the issues with the driver himself. If he previously had less problem with driving a tanker with an automatic gearbox, enquiring about leasing a similar tanker again is a logical step forward. Therefore, contrary to my earlier advice (based on your initial limited information), involving an OH specialist might not be necessary.
Another suggestion which you've probably identified already: How about trying to arrange to have another ride and discussion with the driver but in an automatic vehicle? For preference, this should be a tanker of the sort the driver would normally drive. If your organisation doesn't lease any similar vehicles, it would be worth trying to briefly hire one for this purpose from the lease company.
In addition, I guess I echo the thoughts of other forum users in hoping that your proposal is feasible and, furthermore for his sake, that the driver is able to cope reasonably okay with an automatic tanker. If he's an experienced competent employee, it makes especial sense to make appropriate reasonable adjustments of the sort which are required in any event by law for disabilities / chronic impairments under the Equality Act.
In order to assist others dealing with similar situations, please could you, in due course, share with us the outcome for the driver?
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