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Matt16  
#1 Posted : 01 December 2014 17:23:37(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Matt16

Hey all Just after a little bit of advice with an on-going issue at work. We received a complaint the other day from a customer saying that the ground were his employees have to empty there vehicle is muddy and dangerous when there are unloading and climbing in the back of there vehicles. I have visited the site today and had a look and the site is muddy due to the weather and ground conditions. I have moved the location of the skip to stop this issue. At the same time is it unfair of me to ask the customer, who is very large and has a lot of vehicles and works for a local authority for a risk assessment for his employees climbing on and off the vehicle to unload and move the material in to a skip. Is this unfair of me to ask for this information?
ashleywillson  
#2 Posted : 02 December 2014 07:19:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
ashleywillson

I think it depends on your reasoning. You have responded to his request in a reasonable and proportionate way. Why do you need to see his risk assessment? There may be some legitimate reasons like: -you need to satisfy your insurers that companies working on your premises have the appropriate H&S measures in place -one of the employees has had an accident on your premises and you want to make sure that they are working safely and have had the risks identified with controls put in place -you have observed them working unsafely and want to make sure the company have the required H&S in place But then again reasons which are unacceptable could be: -you're just being nosey -you are trying to inconvenience them -you need to do a risk assessment but are not competent to do one I'm not saying that any of those are your reasons by the way, just giving some examples! So what is the reason you are asking for it?
bob youel  
#3 Posted : 02 December 2014 07:24:26(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
bob youel

Noting the info given it is not a problem to ask for RA's as they should have suitable and sufficient RA's in place in any case noting that RA's should tackle significant risk only and the question is; "is this a significant risk situation in the first place?" as only U can answer that and to get some common sense get in touch with LA's internal H&S team [if they still have one since the recent money cuts] for an opinion as that is part of their job
hilary  
#4 Posted : 02 December 2014 07:58:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
hilary

You have completed a risk assessment at his request and put in some corrective actions to reduce the risk to his employees from the work they are undertaking on your site. Presumably you would have sent a copy to him? I think it is more than justified, therefore, that you ask for a copy of his working procedures to give you a complete package of information for your risk assessment file, otherwise you only have half a story on which to base your risk rating. Remember, until such time as you add people to your environment, you only actually have a hazard not a risk, so I think it is absolutely imperative that this information is sought.
David Bannister  
#5 Posted : 02 December 2014 09:20:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister

I think that is it reasonable for you to ask for your customers safe working procedures relating to your site but not for you to have access to their risk assessments. Their assessment of their risks is their business. If you feel that you have identified risks that need additional controls then co-operation would undoubtedly assist but their and your duty to assess and manage risks does not necessarily extend to sharing risk assessments.
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