Posted By Merv Newman First you do your Risk Assessment : what are the injuries/incidents likely to be associated with the job to be done and what are the exposure levels associated with these injuries/incidents. You can go from "once a year possibility of a cut finger" to "continual risk of a fatal accident" Depending on the results of the RA you develop a Safe System Of Work. SSOW. The SSOW will be a method or procedure to be followed which will allow the level of risk to be reduced to an acceptable level. Following on from a recent thread, installing smoke detectors by using step ladders could expose the worker (a fireman) to a fall. A SSOW might require the worker to replace the step ladder with a platform. However, carrying such a platform up three flights of stairs could also expose the fireman to a risk of falling down the stairs. Or of ergonomic factors or of stress. (bloody silly RA/SSOW) You have to balance the risk (injury level x Probability) of the job against your SSOW. A good SSOW will reduce the risk level to zero (no risk of injury even if I do this a thousand times) but will also will be a method the employees like to follow and will ensure that the job is accomplished faster and with less cost to the employer. (Hey, that safety guy has some really good ideas !) A bit rare that. Merv

Posted By MAK hi Kevin, A Safe System of Work - in the construction industry is usually known as a method statement. basically this addresses the risks hihglighted in the risk assessment associated with a particular activity and describes how the work is to be carried out, by whom and how it will be made safe. the RA and MS or SSOW are related documents in that risks initally shown as "high" can then be brought to "low" if the safe system of work is installed. to give a simple hypothetical example, maintaining a street light - risks are working at height/falls from height - general risk level could be construed as high, depending on the SSOW or Method statement, for example using a step ladder or ladder would not be appropriate and the risk would have to remain as high, however if the safe system states to: - use an appropriately maintained and inspected cherry picker (if the ground was level) - the operative uses a fall arrest system that he has been trained to use etc etc - is trained in the operation all the above, theorectically, would bring the risk to low.

Posted By Merv Newman Andy, I totally agree with you. Can we eliminate the risk ? The right way to go. Unfortunately in many cases the answer is "no". So we have to work with it and produce a Safe System Of Work. Merv

Posted By Kevin_20056 It is for nebosh assignment unit a