The H&S team are currently reviewing the PUWER assessment which is at least 8 pages long, very wordy and not assessor/employee friendly. On observation is not read by employees. Can other members provide any templates that they use and advise how the risks are communicated to Employees for work equipment. Many thanks.

What is a "PUWER assessment"?

When you involve those affected by the work in the process of developing the RA, safe working practices etc. you get buy in and ownership across the work force. Turn up with reams of legal backside covering paper (as I have seen several consultants do) and you achieve the opposite of the desired positive H&S culture. Across my employments the safest, happiest and most productive have been those where the management philosphy avoids dictat and activley promotes involvement. How many posts over the years on this forum have discussed blanket PPE? Generally implemented where an RA has been developed in isolation without the active involvement of those impacted by the rules. Even in the more complex area of PUWER getting the people you expect to operate the machine to participate early in the process (especially for bespoke equipment) can head off possible future bad working practice as they invariably have a different perspective and ask questions the designer, fabricator and specifier do not consider.

Roz, I do PUWER Assessments, and, for those above asking what it is, well it is an inspection form that goes through various questions relating to the PUWER regs. I can't copy you my form but the questions are prepared by a careful study of the ACoP plus a bit of own judgement and experience (I'm on version 18 of the form since starting this in 2007). So the first set of questions/observations are on the Equipment and the requirements of Regs 4,5,6 and 7, suitability, maintenance, ergonomics. Then questions for Regs 8, 9 on Training. Then Regs 11,12 on Dangerous Parts and Unsafe Condition Reg 13 on Temperature Regs 14 - 18 on Controls and Control Systems Reg 19 Isolation from Energy Source etc etc for Stability, Lighting, more on maintenance, Markings, Warnings and Specific Site Conditions consider. A little table to confirm the hazards identified, and risk evaluation (refer to a matrix) All that is on 4 pages. Each question is worded so that YES is good/acceptable, and has answer choice of Yes/No/na Any 'No' answers refer on to page 5 of the form. Page 5 has sections on Remedial actions required, Discussions and other Comments, and a History section which might detail why a guard is designed or previous accidents etc. So that kind of assessment can be worked out by reading the ACoP and creating relevant questions. The reason I have reached version 18? There are so many types of equipment, new, old, second-hand, home-made, poor maintenance, poor training etc etc - I come across a new problem every so often. John

Have a look at the template on page 123 of H&S in Engineering Workshops http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg129.htm