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Posted By Rob Cooknell
I work for a well known Motor Importer, and have been asked to risk assess an event in August...
Basically, it will be a competition offering members of public a chance to take part and pull a 4x4 across a short distance. This will be timed and the fastest person will win a prize.
Anyone had any experience of an event like this? What control measures do you think are required? Any help / comments much appreciated!
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Posted By Chris G
Interesting ides.
Unlike some other public have a go competitions I think this is inherently more risky. Normally when you see "car pulls" it's on programs like worlds strongest man, where the competitors are trained strongmen with training & experience in these types of extreme manual handling event. Inviting the general public - many of whom will have no idea of good technique for manual handling seems like an invitation to injuries.
If you realy want to do this then good luck. I'd try to contact organisers of local / regional strongman competitions for advice and to your insurers
Chris G
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Posted By Rob Cooknell
Thanks for those comments. I am trying to prevent us becoming "risk adverse", so am keen to let the event proceed with the correct control measures. The insurers are ok with the event as well.
So far I have got:
- Harness for person pulling to wear
- Driver in vehicle, with engine on (for braking), in neutral
- Barriers to prevent persons getting in the way of the vehicle
- Safety Officer to oversee each pull
- Minimum and Maximum Age Limits of participants
- Medical Questionnaire - for pre-exisiting injuries / conditions
Any other comments?
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Posted By DRB
Rob
I agree with you comments about becoming risk adverse. You've got your insurers OK and seemed to have things covered.
Doubtless you'll get a load of postings suggesting 101 risk assessments (in triplicate) but stick with the pragmatic approach. It serves H&S far better in the long run.
Have a good day and I hope it all goes well.
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Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Rob
If you are the 'competent person' on safety management for an employer in the sense of para. 7 of the Management of H & S at Work Regs 1999, imagine yourself being cross-examined on your justification for how you manage the event.
To say, 'Well, the insurers gave it the thumbs up' would hardly rate very likely as a legal or professionally-credible defence.
Yet, if you were to add, I based my adjustment of the weights strictly according to the research data of the leading authorities (Mital, Nicholson and Ayoub), that could rate highly.
Where you rate yourself on the scale of professional analysis and practice is obviously a matter of personal judgment. My own experience has been that, apart from a small minority whose understanding of relevant ergonomists is shoddy, thorough analysis is respected and appreciated.
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Posted By Stupendous Man
With something like this, I would consider having medical assistance on standby - perhaps St. Johns. There is IMO a high likelihood of strain and sprain injuries and the effects of over-exertion.
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Posted By Paul Duell
SM is right - involve one of the respected first aid organisations (St John or Red Cross) and take their advice: I suspect they'll want to have a defib and trained operator on their team (although don't be put off by that - for a big public event they're likely to do that anyway).
Must admit my first response to this one was "don't touch it with a dead raccoon", but I was wrong and the other posters are right: Make sure you've got sensible controls in place - which it looks like you have - and enjoy the day!
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Posted By Gff
"If you are the 'competent person' on safety management for an employer in the sense of para. 7 of the Management of H & S at Work Regs 1999"
Are people pulling the 4x4 as a work activity, surely the application of H&S regulation
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Posted By Gff
I never finnished my last post, and now for the point I was going to make
:o(
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Posted By Rob Cooknell
Update: Following some recommendations from you guys I have contacted a Strongman Organisation, and we are now going to have a Strongman in attendance to train the participants and oversee each vehicle pull.
In my mind that will considerably reduce the risk, although the inherent risk is obviously still above average.
Who said Health & Safety is boring?!
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