Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Circumstances that may require a review of the any
risk assessment may include:
5.6
Communicating the fi ndings of a risk
assessment
➤
Changes of:
If risk assessments are going to be more than just words
in a document then the signifi cant fi ndings need to be
acted upon. Managers and other staff need to under-
stand the risks in the workplace, what needs to be done
to control them and what role they have to play in the
process. The only way for the fi ndings of the risk assess-
ment to be effectively implemented is for them to be
effectively communicated.
Besides being a requirement of current legislation,
it is good business sense for the fi ndings of any risk
assessment to be communicated to all those who may
be affected. Groups of people who should be provided
with information should include, but not necessarily be
limited to:
➤
The premises - internal or external layout
➤
The people affected - numbers, ages, disabilities
➤
The plant or tools - power supplies, heating
systems
The procedures in place - systems shutdown,
emergency arrangements
➤
The introduction of new work processes - hot work,
confi ned spaces mechanical handling
➤
➤
Changes in legislation
➤
As a result of hazard reports
➤
Following a safety event (fi re/false alarm or
accident/incident)
➤
Results of occupational health assessment or
monitoring
➤
As a result of enforcement action
➤
Following consultation and discussion in a safety
committee meeting.
➤
Employees
➤
Members of the management team (who are likely
to be involved with implementing the action plan)
➤
Visitors and contractors
Having completed the initial assessment, it is import-
ant to review the whole risk assessment process to
determine:
➤
Other employers/employees sharing the workplace
➤
Landlord and 'responsible persons' (particularly in
the case of fi re).
➤
The accuracy of the initial assessment
There are a variety of different mechanisms by which
the signifi cant fi ndings can be communicated. It may
be that providing written copies of the assessment may
be effective, or the information is included in staff meet-
ings, tool box talks or other formalised programmes. The
information is also often included in pre-planned training
sessions as part of both induction and ongoing training
programmes.
The key issues that should be included in the
information provided from the fi re risk assessment are
➤
The effectiveness, applicability and practicability of
the selected precautions
➤
Whether the risk assessment team operated
effectively.
Risk assessment should not be seen as a 'one-off pro-
cess' but as an evolving exercise which continues to
improve the overall management of safety within the
workplace.
Figure 5.15
Communicating the signifi cant fi ndings of
a risk assessment
Figure 5.14
Reviewing and revising risk assessments
