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morraphael  
#1 Posted : 05 October 2016 15:42:02(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
morraphael

Looking for some advice on risk assessments. My previous role involved bringing contractors on site, reviewing risk assessments, issuing permits etc. This role involves sending our employees to customer sites, the other side of the fence so to speak. The Project Managers write, communicate and record the risk assessments, then each day the employees working on the particular contract review and basically rewrite the RA even if nothing has changed.

My first question is, is this necessary? I don’t see the need to review the RA unless something unplanned presents itself or there is an incident/near miss etc.

My second question is regarding contractors who may call into 6-8 premises per day doing small jobs lasting less than 1 hour. The work is generic and the only difference is the location. Is it acceptable to use a generic RA with the facility to add additional information where required. On occasion writing the RA takes longer than the job.

Thank you

RayRapp  
#2 Posted : 06 October 2016 07:22:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

The process you describe seems overly bureaucratic and complex. If the tasks carried out by your operatives are essentially the same then all you need is a suite of generic RAs to cover the work. I suggest how you mange the controls arising from your RAs is more important than constanly asking operatives to review and update them. Where the working environment or perhaps the task may differ signifcantly this could be reviewed through training. Empowering people through proper training and providing good supervision will prove to be more effective than going down the 'paper safety' route. Finally, where an issue may arise which the operative cannot control they must have confidence they can raise this with their supervisor or manager prior to undertaking the work.
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