Posted By Chris Boocock Should Risk Assessment formats be standardised. I think not, and am debating this within my company at the moment. My reasoning is that with a standard format, the few high risk tasks may be given the same attention as the many low risk tasks we do, and that there may be overkill in some areas, and more worryingly underkill in other more important areas. I don't believe that a standard risk assesment format is either suitable and sufficient in all cases, and that the type of risk assessment done should be a function of the manitude of the risks associated with the task. I'd be interested to receive some opinion on this. Thanks - Chris.

Posted By ian mcnally Chris. I agree, it does depend on what tasks you are expecting your workforce to carry out. Personally I have nothing against standardised risk assessment formats and believe them to be of value, particularly where simple repetitive low risk tasks are involved. We use such formats which are in the form of a tick sheet although some information is usually required to be entered on the sheet, it is minimal. The maintenance operative will have a job sheet with the risk assessment printed on the reverse. They are required to go through the thought process each time since they need to identify hazards by ticking the applicable boxes. Because the format is easy to use and can be done quickly, it seems to work. Not perfect, but I have yet to see a practical perfect system. The sheets are monitored for content and to ensure they are actually being completed. Initially I was not popular for introducing the system, but over time people have come to love it!.....well, accept it maybe. Probably a good number of those accessing this forum would agree that complex high risk activities need a far more analytical approach where such a generic form would not be suitable or sufficient and I agree with this. I do have concerns where contractors produce standard generic risk assessments with pages of text and complex risk matrices attached, I feel these are unlikely to be read or properly understood by anyone actually doing the work. I too will be interested to hear some other opinions.

Posted By Chris Boocock Ian. You sound like you have a good system - promoting the thought process - and actually monitoring the content - one of my concerns is that the term risk assessment has become too much of a phrase without meaning as I've heard it bandied about in the most inappropriate arenas - people using it without actually understanding what it is they're saying!

Posted By Peter Longworth The actual process of risk assessment can be standardised as can any pro-forma. It is the actual content of the assessment that will be different. At the end of the day all it is is an way of identifying and mitigating the risks associated with a particular hazard. Nothing more, nothing less

Posted By Paul Craythorne Some people get too hung up on formats/pro formas. It is the methodology applied and the competence of the assessor(s) that are critical to the success of the risk assessment process. Regards, Paul Craythorne