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morraphael  
#1 Posted : 16 July 2015 15:13:40(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
morraphael

Hi
I'm working at a housing association and need to find a suitable risk assessment programme, must be IT and a reasonable cost.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Corfield35303  
#2 Posted : 16 July 2015 15:25:21(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Corfield35303

Apologies in advance for the unhelpful answer.

Risk assessment can be made really complicated by those that want to keep it a dark art, why not try using the HSE format, available for free on their website? It doesn't have any of those nonsensical 5x5 risk matrices and can genuinely be completed by the non-professional, you could even make available sample assessments (similar to the HSE) for the type of work you do to help out your colleagues......
Ron Hunter  
#3 Posted : 16 July 2015 16:38:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

How many assessment documents and outcomes do you estimate you'll have to manage?
What are your expectations of this IT solution?

In my experience, those with a large property portfolio to manage usually invest in an Asset Management System (controlling modernisation, maintenance, testing, inspection, asset distribution, disposal, etc. etc.)
Many of those Asset Management Systems offer document and action management applications as a free bolt-on.
aud  
#4 Posted : 16 July 2015 23:39:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
aud

I agree with previous advice and options, but my experience of working with a housing association may add something.

This HA had bought, and started to use Assessnet, but the implementation was flawed, and it became a burden so impossible to use and keep up with.
Although this meant they wouldn't go back to it, I could see that particular package working for occupation-based assessment (plumber, carpenter, HO etc), although that is not how it comes out of the box. You have to have a clear idea of 'what it will look like when it's finished', to decide if, and how, you could apply any IT package.

The HA then went down the route of assessing by trade which boiled down to about 20 general assessments, plus some standard project-based, multi-trade ones, plus premises management systems/checklists for their offices.

Their safety service provided support so that anything out-of-the-ordinary was flagged up and then decisions could be made how to tackle it. A lot of the construction work used method statements anyway. If they ended up with more than 50 RAs after a year I would be surprised. Objective achieved and not a matrix in sight.

Exception: Fire RA, which is obviously premises specific, and will depend on the size and assets of your own HA.
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