Rank: Super forum user 
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A client has had software written for them which produces risk assessments and method statements plus other documents.
The system is very complex with lots of drop down menus with boxes for input of information and not many in the company are able to use the system.
I may be introduced to the system soon with a view to me using it to produce their RAMS etc.
A may be an 'old git' and set in my ways but would rather use what I do now which is using a template on Word or Pages and enter the information myself.
Would anyone like to advise whether they find PC software beneficial or is my 'oldtimers' method still the way to go.
Edited by user 17 April 2018 11:42:58(UTC)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I would say it depends on what sort of jobs you are writing the RAMs for, who is going to read them, how often you are going to be writing them and how much they need to be tailored to be specific for each job. I suspect that the system was written to try to make it easier for people to generate the documents but somewhere along the line someone got carried away and too many clauses got put in. I would have a play with it and perhaps produce a set of RAMs your way and a set the software's way for the same job and ask your bosses which set they prefer.
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 1 user thanked Hsquared14 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Drop down boxes sound quite limiting so would any RA produced be a realistic reflection of reality or merely "closest fit" within the set restrictions?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Drop down boxes sound quite limiting so would any RA produced be a realistic reflection of reality or merely "closest fit" within the set restrictions?
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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“… software written … which produces risk assessments and method statements plus other documents.” I know that AI is getting better but I am not convinced that software has gotten to the point where a computer can take responsibility for ensuring the Health and Safety of an employee and is willing to stand up in court an explain to his honour why it chose to the that particular safe system of work if it all goes wrong!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Surely the person responsible for compiling a RAMS should be the supervisor/team lead responsible for the task? Certainly assisted by at least one person who is actually involved in the task, at least at the 'review' stage before it's approved. Possibly also assisted by an OSH professional if there are unusual hazards and/or controls with which the supervisor is not familiar.
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Rank: Forum user
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I believe going electronically is the way forward in certain aspects of H&S.
So the software that you are referring to would add up your score based on your responses and give you the RAMS which, no doubt would be as a result of a calculation in the software I'd imagine.
How can you be sure that all the variables in the RAMS are included in the software, that is what I'd be asking. Is it able to understand exactly what it is you are trying to risk assess? It may be advisable to complete your own RAMS manually first then conduct exactly the same one electronically and analyse the results of each.
What you have to bare in mind is the software is not artificial intelligence, so it relies on you to input the parameters of the data to determine an answer for you.
Ultimately if it goes belly up and the worst happens the RAMS will be scrutinised either way.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: Hsquared14  I would say it depends on what sort of jobs you are writing the RAMs for, who is going to read them, how often you are going to be writing them and how much they need to be tailored to be specific for each job. I suspect that the system was written to try to make it easier for people to generate the documents but somewhere along the line someone got carried away and too many clauses got put in. I would have a play with it and perhaps produce a set of RAMs your way and a set the software's way for the same job and ask your bosses which set they prefer.
Thanks.
The jobs will be shop fitting and read by the operatives who all know their work, alledgedly.
RAMS are required to be sent to the client who will read and approve, alledgedly.
Edited by user 18 April 2018 10:27:39(UTC)
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel “… software written … which produces risk assessments and method statements plus other documents.” I know that AI is getting better but I am not convinced that software has gotten to the point where a computer can take responsibility for ensuring the Health and Safety of an employee and is willing to stand up in court an explain to his honour why it chose to the that particular safe system of work if it all goes wrong!
I know the end result is only as good as the person's knowledge who made up the software.
I similar program published by HSE would be more reliable methinks.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I cannot comment on a computer based approach to generating RAMS for physical accident hazards. However, I would be very concerned at the idea that it could be adequate for the complex issue of chemical hazards and exposure. This is a much more complex issue for a number of reasons. To explain why in any depth is beyond the scope of a forum such as this, but just consider three of the many considerations we need to apply. 1. We purchase chemicals to use for a purpose. In doing so it is common that we change the chemical's properties and thus the hazard. The same chemical may represent different hazards when used for different tasks. Any risk assessment must be based on the real hazard that arises when a task is carried out.
2. There are three main routes of exposure to chemicals - inhalation, ingestion and skin. Evidence shows that there can be an interaction between these. For example inhalation can result in systemic contact dermatitis, skin exposure can elicit asthma, ingestion can cause contact dermatitis.
3. The effect of exposure to a chemical hazard is frequently chronic, i.e. may not appear for some considerable time, possibly years. How would a computer based system cope with this and the inter-individual variability that exists? Around 20-30% of the population are what is termed atopic, i.e. are particularly sensitive to chemical exposure. This is one reason why we have no skin exposure limits (there are several others).
Ask yourself - would I be confident that the computer based system would cope with these, let alone the others that I have not mentioned.
Chris
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