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Bennett31384  
#1 Posted : 29 August 2018 10:19:13(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Bennett31384

Morning all,

I work for a engineering consultancy, most of our work is office based. We also send smart engineers to client sites to assess (e.g.visual inpection) their engineering problems. If our engineers are visiting a clients office, I would not expect to see a risk assessment for the project, as the client shoul have controlled the significant risks in their risk assessment. Additionally our staff have a familiarity with the hazards found in offices.

The problem is when we vist an industrial/working site. The culture has been not to undertake a risk assessment, or at least not record the findings, I believe they should. The majority of the time our engineers are expected to wear PPE on the visit. As you are all aware PPE is required when their is a residual hazard which cannot be controlled by other means.

Can anyone share any similar situations where the visiting organisation is not in direct control of the hazard but are expected to have awareness and take the right actions.

  • Would you expect risk assessment is carried out?
  • How would you expect the engineers to gather the data for the assessment?
  • Would you just cover the risks under your control, such as fatigue, travel etc?
  • Do you think it is acceptable to rely on the customers assessment to have adequatley covered visitors?

Finally, if an incident occured involving a staff member on a customers site, do you think the enforcement bodies would expect to see a risk assessment from the visiting organisation?

Any thoughts or opinions welcome

Joe

Thomo  
#2 Posted : 29 August 2018 10:49:52(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Thomo

Take a look at your contract agreement with them it should say what H/S responsibilities you and they have.

I would expect a binding H/S agreement between you and them.

They are responsible for the site so should provide you with all information on possible risks, you are responsible for your engineer  so should provide them information on your risks and assessments. such as manual handling, COSHH, PAT, PUWER on anything that they will use.

thanks 1 user thanked Thomo for this useful post.
Bennett31384 on 29/08/2018(UTC)
Bennett31384  
#3 Posted : 29 August 2018 11:06:58(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Bennett31384

Thank you for the answer, to add complexity to the situation, we may not have a contract in place as the visit may be part of a scoping exercise to assit the quotation to win the work.

Mark-W  
#4 Posted : 29 August 2018 11:20:14(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mark-W

Originally Posted by: Bennett31384 Go to Quoted Post

Thank you for the answer, to add complexity to the situation, we may not have a contract in place as the visit may be part of a scoping exercise to assit the quotation to win the work.

If you aren't a client yet and visit their site then an induction should be conducted.  The same for any visitor tho their site, but a bit more indeepth for your reprasentative explaining issues in more detail.

If they have a H&S file then that should be made available, likewise any other safety related paperwork they have.

Bigmac  
#5 Posted : 29 August 2018 11:20:51(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ArturK

You can create contractor's pack for client and insist to be used when your staff turn up on site and you can cover all of above.

For example we have contracto'r pack which include: contractor instruction receipt, use of organisation equipment, hot work permit, working at heights permit, work in confined spaces permit and generic work permit.

This contractor's pack also cover requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 / ISO 45001.

Contractor instructions cover as follow: who is person to contact and report directly before and after work, visitor badge, fire and evacuation instructions, walkways, traffic system, electrical equipment, safety regulations (signs, PPE, Asbestos), responsibilities / accident reporting, shared welfare, personal hygiene / safety, unsafe working, environmental regulations.

Each time when contractor visit us they need to sign contractor instruction receipt, complete generic work permit and others permits as required.

Generic permit include: details of work to be done, hazard assess / indentified, precautions, PPE required, authorisation,acceptance and hand back. 

You can create contractor's pack for client and insist to be used when your staff turn up on site.

Bennett31384  
#6 Posted : 29 August 2018 11:26:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Bennett31384

Thanks again for the advice/solutions.

For most sites our staff will receive an formal induction to access areas beyond the office environment.

Do you feel this is enough to satisfy an enforcement body should an incident occur?

Bigmac1  
#7 Posted : 31 August 2018 09:47:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Bigmac1

Your risk assessment is a legal document and it is YOUR risk assessment. The client should not write it for you. they should give you all the information that you need and any specialist advice, but the work you carry out is your work and your risk to manage.

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