Posted By George Wedgwood
Well Richard - I would ask Group Safety - they always know the answers!!! I trust things are going well and you are enjoying H&S?
This is usually a difficult question to answer but it depends on where you come from. If you are to defend against a possible civil claim then it will be important to keep relevant personal records of training, competence etc. for a long time - perhaps in excess of 40 years! Think of asbestos claims or even noise claims going undefended because aan employer cannot prove an employee had audiometry etc. Permits were always another matter as the life span could be shorter since failures would generally be brought to conclusion within 10 years. I have just completed expert witness work for a complaintant whose husband was fatally injured in an arc incident and that occurred in '98 in a 'good' plc. Settlement eventually was agreed out of court in July this year. So that would be a 'best practice' case, involving a lot of money. Therefore keep records for a minimum of 6 years, preferably 10 unless longer action causes can be envisaged. Important records for business operation may need to be kept for the life of the business so it is a good plan to think of the archiving process before a business becomes snowed under with records. I can see where that gets you as I work for a company that has rapidy expanded and records are difficult. Generally it costs and they pay out if they don't know!

Regards, George (07836 718908)