Rank: Forum user 
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Hi Learned Friends, I recently saw a thread where it was mentioned that some people who employ sub-contractors complete the risk assessments/Method statements for them and they (Sub-Contractor) works from it and signs them accordingly, The thread I saw people where stating this as a bad idea/practice with this in mind i am interested in peoples opinion and I wondered if in general you as professional do believe this to be a bad idea and if so why they believe it to be a bad idea ? Alan
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Rank: Forum user
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My personal opinion is this goes completely against the grain with respect to H&S.
Firstly, if a major injury occured do you really believe they will just hold their hands up? Do you not think they will raise the fact it's not their risk assessment? It's catagorically not your responsibility to do their risk assessment. However, it is your responsibility to ensure they have suitably assessed their risks and, more importantly, you're happy with them. In terms of criminal law you could (potentially) be in breech of HASWA74, S2 if you inadvertently put your employees at risk by not suitably checking the risk assessments of contractors/sub-contractors. Case law supports this.
Of course, help and assist but certainly not complete them. It's their responsibility and they need to know the hazards and risks of their work activities. Hope that helps?
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 1 user thanked ryangavin777 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree with the above post in that your sub-contractors should provide RAMS in order to evidence they are capable of carrying out the work safely. The PC should review the RAMS to check they are suitable and sufficient.
There are exceptions, for example with labour only sub-contractors, possibly small one-man-band type sub-contractors who may need additional support to prepare suitable documentation. On one large project I worked on a sub-contractor adopted our RAMS for consistency, but also put their own branding on them.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Ryan, thanks for reply and i agree but just to take this point further. 1. I would imagine we would have checked they can risk assess through the Pre-qualification process because even if they did work from an assessment you wrote for them you would have to satisfy yourself they do actually know how to do them proficiently. 2. So are you saying there is no reason you would write someone else assessment ? for instance what if these sub-contractors where installing your own specialist equipment, designed and built by your company ? Alan
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Rank: Forum user
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As said above, you should never write their risk assessments for them, but there is nothing wrong with letting them have a blank risk assessment template so that they can complete a risk assessment themselves to your required standards. I have had this before and did provide a blank template and also referred them to the OSHCR website so that they could appoint someone competent to advise them.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Spud, In relation to both points I would probably have a pre meet and collectively discuss the job/task/project. It would be a good opportunity to informally discuss processes, hazards, potential mitigation and control measures that could/should be implimented. Following on from this the contractor should be able to provide RAMS that "they" have wrote. Does that make sense?
Originally Posted by: spud 
Hi Ryan, thanks for reply and i agree but just to take this point further. 1. I would imagine we would have checked they can risk assess through the Pre-qualification process because even if they did work from an assessment you wrote for them you would have to satisfy yourself they do actually know how to do them proficiently. 2. So are you saying there is no reason you would write someone else assessment ? for instance what if these sub-contractors where installing your own specialist equipment, designed and built by your company ? Alan
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Rank: Forum user
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This subject has been discussed to death over the years
Part of a business is risk assessment etc. irrespective of the size etc. of a business and it must be asked if they cannot provide adequare RA then can they provide adequate work as U may as well pay them but do the job yourself
I advise that U become part of the procurement team which then shoud stop things like this occuring as part of procurement is assuring that a company is competent not just cheap as cheapness/incompetence puts your business at risk
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