Good morning B Bruce You've found yourself in a fairly common situation. To save on repetition, may I suggest that you could have a trawl through recent [since last Wed] posts that address differing aspects of your question. What a shame that L21 ACoP & HSG65 no longer exist in their previous format - most of your questions would be fairly well answered from those 2 documents - especially the need for managers to be directly involved in the oversight of RA production and implementation. The practice of handing out the full RA is, in itself, generally not helpful as those receiving it have to interpret & understand it - without suitable competent input, that will generally not meet the MHSW requirement. Except for RAs for comparatively simple tasks I would propose providing an extract of the RA that focuses on the remedial measures and how to use them - a SSW in essence! Additional questions that you may wish to consider:- Who identifies and appoints the trainers? Who ensures that they are actually competent in the topic and as trainers? Who designs the training sessions? Who determines the level of training necessary to be considered competent as a trainer and as a post-trainee? Frank Hallett

Ron, I didn't mean expected. My bad. To ensure employees have understood the contents of the risk assessments (hazards and controls) competency based training/assessment takes place and employees sign off a training record, along with the competent 'trainer'. As for your second point. I totally agree. Maybe I didnt explain this clearly enough in my original posting. It is this very aspect that I am trying to change. So, if you dont mind me asking Ron, how have you trained/delivered this in the past?

Ron, again, thanks for the reply. All very informative, correct and helpful but not really what I am looking for. Your well written reply describes my problem in detail. We have in the past provided the employees with the risk assessments themselves which isn't very helpful. What I am more interested in the method of training and provision of information that others use - in essence the training model and associated examples of blank documents. Its a pity you don't have any real-world examples you can share here as you seem to be very knowledgeable?

Be confuddled no longer........ Risk assessments will be completed and the results of these will need to be communicated to employees in some way. Although I’m a little wet behind the ears (so to speak) I do understand that the risk assessment itself shouldn’t (in most circumstances) be simply communicated to employees – it is merely the results of these assessments which should be communicated. Hence, why I am changing our procedures prior to reviewing our existing risk assessments. The training will be very much specific to the risk assessment, which is itself specific to the organisation - this I do fully appreciate and understand. Therefore, what I am looking for are ideas and examples of how other colleagues have presented this information in a readable, user friendly format in order to help them meet the requirements of legislation.....i.e. provision of information and instruction. So, if there is anyone out there who would care to help or provide advice I'd really appreciate it. Many thanks

The "result" of a risk assessment is IMO simply the answer to the question (of the employer) "Am I doing enough (to eliminate or reduce risk) or need I do more". In many instances the employer will be content. Where he determines that something more needs to be done then it's usual to take a plan of action to an employee consultation forum. I confess to continued befuddlement here.

Thanks mudmuppet and Frank - good suggestions. When I begin the review (starting with Production Dept) I will see if we can incorporate them. Ron - I do not see how you can be confused. Its a simple enough posting. I am actually confused by your responses. But at least your continued confusion has helped keep it near the top of the forum for a while. Thanks. If anyone else has any suggestions I would be glad to hear of them. I feel its always helpful to have helpful hints and tips from my fellow colleagues. Thanks again everyone who has read and contributed.

Hi SP We don't at the moment. I've inherited a complicated system which to be frank is fit for the bin! In the past we have delivered the risk assessments which, as you quite rightly point out, is confusing, time consuming and pretty worthless as employees don't read them. I'm considering a few options at the moment such as SSoW/SOP's backed up with regular toolbox talks. I like the idea of using pictures to illustrate some of the stages/tasks but this in itself might be confusing in some of our departments. I do like the idea though. I think I'm suffering from the good old 'can't see the wood for the trees' problem. Too much to do, not enought time and don't know where to begin.

I want to change the process to ensure a greater level of ownership and a more streamlined approach to delivering the results of risk assessments to staff. I’m wondering how others deliver this and if possible, see a few examples of risk assessment training docs? our RAs are specific to individual machines ,never see the light of day and are of little or no use to the average operative. my approach has been to use simple pictorial sop attached to each machine.

If equipment or processes are complex then the RA can be complex or long, and I agree, this is not an RA that you present to employees as their training. As suggested above training in complex tasks is made much easier when accompanied by a pictorial Safe Operating Procedure. My main custsomer has done this for years, long before they got me doing their RA review. I can't share one of their excellent SOPs but they are prepared on an excel worksheet, this allows printing pages with text in one column, photos other column. The purpose of PPE and other controls can be explained while explaining the process, photograph all the stages, and laminated copies can be placed near the tool/process. B.Bruce, don't get roped into doing all these SOPs yourself. Get supervisors and operators involved. That might be a problem - takes time. This may upset supervisor or his manager, but offer as much help as you can, get involved with the jobs, offer to do the more tedious tasks e.g. with camera, jpeg editing, preparing the excel SOP. With this sort of involvement you really get to know supervisors and operators and hopefully the team effort gets results! My main customer has successfully got supervisors and operators preparing these SOPs for years, but I've got involved with new SOPs, most recently with LOTO procedures which now allow operators to do some tool/guard cleaning which used to be done by maintenance personnel. JohnW

Barry, looks like a plan. Don't forget to involve the senior management as they are the ones who can help others see the need to help you if you know what I mean. Good luck.