Risk Assessment, Safe Systems of Work and Permits to Work

A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can consider whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Risk assessment is the methodology that underpins all decisions about health and safety.
Employers are required to conduct “suitable and sufficient” risk assessments of all work activities in order to introduce measures to eliminate, reduce or control risks.

Who is this course for?
Anyone with responsibility for or involvement in the process of conducting risk assessments and formulating control measures to minimise the risk of injury.

What is it about?
The main aim of the course is to provide course members with the knowledge and skills they require to conduct and record risk assessments, develop safe systems of work and to understand when and how to use permits to work.

Content
This is a structured course that covers what we believe to be the most important issues and it is essential that it does. However, our approach in delivering the course is flexible and pragmatic. Our trainer is an experienced health and safety consultant who is able to provide sound advice and guidance on your own specific circumstances. The course is intended to be interactive and our trainer will encourage your participation. He will welcome any contribution that you can make, based upon your own experience. There will, therefore, be plenty of opportunity to focus on the things that matter to you.

The course content will include:

• Proactive management of health and safety
• Legal requirements
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Other relevant Regulations requiring specific risk assessment
• Definitions – hazard, risk, control measures
• Identification of hazards and persons at risk
• Five-step approach to risk assessment
• Conducting risk assessments (practical exercise)
• Hierarchy of control measures
• Recording and reviewing risk assessments
• Legal requirements for safe systems of work and permits to work
• Safe systems of work
• Compiling safe systems (practical exercise)
• Principles of permits to work
• Use of permits
• Documentation

During the course, delegates will undertake written assessments and practical exercises to determine the knowledge, understanding and skills they have obtained from it. The Focale Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to course delegates attaining the required standard.

Learning objectives

On completion of the course, delegates should be able to:

• Understand the legal requirements for risk assessment
• Understand the meaning of the terms, hazard, risk and risk control measure
• Be able to identify a range of hazards in the workplace
• Be able to carry out a risk assessment
• Be able to record a risk assessment on the appropriate documents
• Know when and how to review a risk assessment
• Understand the legal requirement for safe systems of work and permits to work
• Be able to develop, implement and maintain safe systems of work
• Understand the requirement for permits to work
• Be able to develop and implement procedures for the use of permits.

Other relevant courses available:
• Accident Investigation and Reporting
• An Introduction to Behavioural Safety
• Directors’ and Senior Management Responsibilities for Managing Safety
• Safe Use of Work Equipment (PUWER 1998)
• Supervising Health and Safety.