Risk Assessment

[najw]

I have been asked to prepare a Risk Assessment for Challenge Events.

Having managed to evade the grasps of the nanny state for so long they have finally caught up with me

Has anyone else prepared anything similar that would give me some pointers?

Or do I have to lock myself in a darkened room and try and envisage every possible risk?

Any help appreciated...

[bishbosh]

There is only one body that counts when it comes to risk assessments - the HSE.

Funnily enough, they have a nice little guide on how to do it HERE.

From personal experience carrying out risk assessments (in civil engineering admittedly) and then being audited, do not overlook the "review and update" bit. This will go a long way in a court (IMHO) to demonstrate you have done all that is reasonable to identify and mitigate risk at an event.

Hope this helps.

[Orgasmic Farmer]

Risk assessment is, as far as I can see, an exercise is documenting common sense. It is one thing to know in your head that something is risky and that everything possible has been done to avert that risk , but hey, accidents happen. It is another thing to stand up and prove in court that you had identified that risk, taken all possible steps to prevent it and that the accident was just that, an accident. Hence risk assessment. A right royal pain in the butt but a worthy and useful exercise that does in fact 2 focus the mnind and what is in fact leading to less ltigation and hence lower insurance premiums.

A risk assessment might have the following headings

1 HAZARD Hazards that could reasonably be expected to result in significant harm

2 RISK Level of risk – Low, Medium, High

3 CONTROLS Controls already in place and actions required by competitors/spectators/marshalls

4 FURTHER ACTIONS Actions and work that could be implemented in the future to further reduce risk

For example, at random.

Hazard - winching across a track

Risk -high

Controls - all competitors told to use warning triangles and marshalls instructed to strictly ensure this is followed with penalties for non compliance

Further action - consider the use of 2 triangles placed at 10 metre distance in each direction from the winch rope so they can be seen from both directions.

Thats how we do em anyway. Probably many varations but you get the general idea.

Mark

[Orgasmic Farmer]

I would happily read through any assessment you make Neil and give some comments. We find that a brainstorming session works well since often different people see risks and dangers that others might not identify as such.

[wormhole]

I would happily read through any assessment you make Neil and give some comments. We find that a brainstorming session works well since often different people see risks and dangers that others might not identify as such.

If your club is MSA recoginised then ask them for advise, I think that I have some info on a risk assessment for a stage rally that I got from a MSA/BRMC training course, I'll post it if I can find it!

If you are still stuck you could go on a rally MSA course, the senior stage official course includes a part on risk assessment - they are free, however this year most of the events have happened Training Events 2006 there are a few still with TBA on the date, I would suggest you email and ask what other courses are still to happen

[pugwash]

might be a good idea to email Mr Lovejoy- he has some interesting stuff on this.

i could email you some professional prepared risk assessment which has been supplied by a health and safety specialist firm employed by our company

[najw]

might be a good idea to email Mr Lovejoy- he has some interesting stuff on this.

i could email you some professional prepared risk assessment which has been supplied by a health and safety specialist firm employed by our company

Thank you, Mr Lovejoy has been in touch