mj

I am in the process of tyring to upgrade ours to the more modern points system type and wondered if anyone on scoobynet could offer any input, and preferably some template documents to email me ( no questions ) blahh blah, I didn't get it of you etc..

We are a mechanical & electrical contractor, so the risk assessments need to be based on things like swinging girders about with cranes,welding bare chested etc,general manly stuff , in short site work, RA's for the chance of tripping over the office shredder are not needed.

Any input much appreciated

mike.

stubarru

I've been doing risk assessments for a couple of years, and I have to be honest, it takes a lot of time to get it started but once they are in place, they are easy to up keep.

Put Risk Assessment into Google and you will get all different types, so you will need to find one that best suites you. There is also info on a government website.

Hope this helps

stubarru

ProperCharlie

i don't have them specifically for the tasks that you require but i can email you our template which is easily adaptable. i have quite a bit of info on Risk Assessment in general - if you wish to receieve then drop me an email to my work account and i'll mail you tomorrow.


[Edited by ProperCharlie - 1/22/2004 7:00:38 PM]

V45DSM

They're not called 'Risk Assessemnts' anymore. They are 'Work Safety Plans'

logiclee

MJ,

I'm an Electrical Engineer by trade but have a few H&S qualifications. IOSHH cert, NEBOSH cert and NEBOSH diploma.

If you haven't got anyone trained in H&S I would give it carefull consideration. Just keeping up with a few documented risk assesments will not keep you from prosecution should the unfortunate happen and the HSE get involved. You need to prove you have safe sytems of work in place, carry out regular audits, have a current company safety policy, etc . etc. If your only a small outfit consider getting in a consultant.

I work in heavy industry with high voltages and I deal with the HSE at least once a month and they take no prisoners I can tell you. I have also been involved in a fatality and when the Police get involved you don't sleep much at night.

I notice you are involved in welding, did you know the HSE has recently issued new guidence for welding. It's cost us a few bob to get our kit upto spec.

Have a look at www.hse.gov.uk

At the end of the day no one wants to hurt an employee or themselves but the HSE is getting hard on prosecuting so you need to protect youself from prosecution if you operate in a hazardous environment.

Cheers
Lee

r32

We use them, based on an type of FMEA system

ProperCharlie

FWIW i did my NEBOSH part 1 diploma in december

haven't found out if i've passed or not yet. I can second everything that Lee says, but sometimes it's better not to try flying before you can walk.



[edited to be a bit more polite...]

[Edited by ProperCharlie - 1/23/2004 7:29:17 AM]

logiclee

Your company can call them what they want but Reg 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 basically says.
Employers and self-employed carry out suitable and sufficient assessment of risk to health and safety and record that assessment if 5 or more people are employed.

If you don't do them you are breaking the law.

Doing a risk assessment doesn't prevent you being prosecuted you still need to prove you have a safe system of work in place and your people are competent and trained for the work they are doing.

Lee

edited for spelling

[Edited by logiclee - 1/22/2004 6:53:47 PM]

mj

Cheers for all tyhe info boys,

Propercharlie, If what you have is under a meg you can send to me as per profile

Logiclee, you work for the MEB?

ProperCharlie

mj - i'll mail you tommorrow unless i forget

(i don't have the stuff here on my home pc)

SteveV-WRX

mj

im just sending you a couple of files,

supporting info, template, examples and action plan.

if you want anymore info please feel free to email as per profile.

Steve

logiclee

No M8, I work in the Mining Industry.

Usually 11kV and below but sometimes on bigger stuff.

Cheers
Lee

corradoboy

I did the IOSHH course with my last employer. Can't believe how slack my new company is. We have no trained first aid people. I know of no risk assessments ever being done. We have no first aid kits. We have no eye wash stations (and we use corrosive liquids). We have no fire drill procedure. Not one current employee was given a safety induction (position of fire exits/extinguishers/alarms/first aid kits & personnel/assembly points).Not one water tap is marked suitable for drinking. People are regularly asked to work complete shifts alone. On the day we moved in, the fire alarm didn't work, the fire exits were shuttered and locked, there were no extinguishers, no drinking water and the phones didn't work (no 999).

I really would go to town legally if I was ever hurt at work.

mj

Thanks steve..I'll have a look at hotmail in a mo...

..as usual the scoobynet old boy network comes up trumps

cheers,

mike.

V45DSM

Come on then big man!

dba

IOSHH will give you enough knowledge to do them,i thought it was a good course and i now regularly tell contractors to p1ss off due to having crappy method statements

well worth it imo

logiclee

Carradoboy,

Yep I can't believe the ignorance of some firm's.

I wonder if the HSE watch TV, all the house development programs and never any mention of CDM regs and safety implications.

I had a good laugh at the Boss Swap program the other week. This cowboy had a firm that made scaffolding, they had no regard what so ever for regulations and H&S. He even told the program he did things his way and no one was going to tell him how to run his firm.

It would have been great if he had turned up for work the next day with a HSE inspector with Police assistance waiting for him.
See how many contracts he meets with a Prohibition notice served on the factory.

Cheers
Lee

mj

...funny you should say that, I remember watching ground force ages ago, they showed charlie dimmock shovelling cement out of a mixer that was still running, feckin lethal

..so by law you need no formal training to write RA's, just experience of the task?

dba

Interestingly though,a scaffolding company can train their emploiyees to literally behave like monkeys,and its all legal.If they have been properly trained and then risk assessed correctly,their staff can swing about like Mowgli and there is nothing you can do about it.I have seen a shopfitter climb 15ft above a concrete floor without a harness and he was "risk assesed" to be able to do this.

SteveV-WRX

mj

your experience in the given environment gives credence to your ability to judge the likelihood and severity of possible accidents occuring in your own workplace.

the main objective is to take a completly impartial view.

Steve

mj

... , you haven't met my workforce , total disregard for rules & regs, especially when it means they can get away earlier.

..cheers for the email BTW, I'll try and work out your scoring system tommorrow with a clearer head

[Edited by mj - 1/22/2004 9:34:34 PM]

Daz34

My workplace Risk Assessments are 'Dynamic'

[Edited by Daz34 - 1/22/2004 9:35:20 PM]

logiclee

MJ,

The MHASWRegs sate that risk assessments must be carried out by a "Competent" person.

How confident would you feel in court saying you or your emloyee was competent to make out risk assessments without any training.

Lets not get carried away with risk assessments that is just one small regulation in one set of regs. You need to ensure you have a current written safety policy, safe systems of work, sufficient training and supervision, first aid and welfare provisions, method statements, supply of the correct PPE, emergency procedures, systems in place to audit and review risk assements and systes of work, maintenance schemes for equipment, test certs, COSHH assessments, manual handling assessments, noise assesments, vibratory tool health monitoring and working times for equipment etc. etc. I could go on and on.

IOSHH is a good course for general health safety. I would really advise any firm that has more than 5 workers to get someone in a responsible on a NEBOSH certificate course or to get in a consultant.
Remember that one incident and prosecution by the HSE could leave the company in ruins and individuals with criminal records, fines and even imprisonment.

Lee

mj

you can mail me an example then

logiclee

Just remind them they are commiting a criminal offence.

Section 7b of the H&S at Work act.
Duty of employees to co-operate with employer to ensure H&S.

There are many other regulations such as the PPE regs that put the responsibily on the employee to co-operate with the employer.

Cheers
Lee

mj

current written safety policy - yes, but plaguerised.

safe systems of work - err, nothing documented, but no serious accidents

sufficient training and supervision - yes

first aid and welfare provisions - plasters in the top drawer, bog downstairs.

method statements - yes too many, I need a generic one about 20,000,000 words long to cover everything

supply of the correct PPE - yes,

emergency procedures - panic, and shout loudly at the apprentice.

systems in place to audit and review risk assements and systes of work - definately, 1 out of 10 of my MS & RA's get raped by some smart **** on site.

schemes for equipment - no plant that technical, hammers and foul language etc..

test certs - yes, I'm getting quite good now at making results up

COSHH assessments - get em from Mf'rs or the net.

manual handling assessments - yes, anything over 1500Kgs needs 2 men.

noise assesments - not rq'd in the office, on site by main contractor.

vibratory tool health monitoring - NA

working times for equipment - till it breaks

etc. etc. I could go on and on.


[Edited by mj - 1/22/2004 9:51:53 PM]

SteveV-WRX

lee

i could see me and you getting on!

the only big thing i can see you've missed out of the post a couple above is confirmation of RIDDOR!

steve

logiclee

Seems like you have it all covered

Just one thing...

The Data Hazard Sheet you get from a manufacturer should not be confused as a COSHH assessment.
The HDS should be used to come up wih a COSHH assessment for the Chemical you are using, for the purpose you are using it, where you are using it, who is using it, how long for, ppe, safety precautions, emergency procedures. etc. ;}

Lee

logiclee

RIDDOR is probably my biggest headache, don't know how I forgot that.

We get a few reportables every month. Loads of "Yes Mr Inspector".

My main job is Electrics really.

Lee

SteveV-WRX

lee

im in leisure, water and electrics makes for some wonderful risk assesments.

oh and i've got a rifle range with anxcillery range and armoury!
(and yes the obvious has happened!)

Steve