"Reasonably Practicable" means that an employer can say:
"We cant do this because it costs too much"? or "We can't afford to do that?"
True
False
Hint
Is 'reasonable' all about money?
Incorrect!
Correct!
Employers have to demonstrate that costs of implementation
seriously outweigh the risks involved. So they have to explain the risks, and then show that they have
made that computation/calculation.
What is "practicable" and "reasonably practicable"
Identify the best practicable option for reducing risks.
The best practicable option is that which controls the risk as good as
is technologically feasible. In other words, if there is a system in
operation that demonstartes best practice, that is the "best
practicable". Bu tif a system has not yet been devised, then nobody is
expected to invent one.
Explain the difference between 'practicable' and 'reasonably practicable'.
The word "reasonably" introduces the element of cost into the equation. In other words, something may be technically feasible, but be far too expensive to implement.
Reasonably Practicable Activity
Read the paragraph below and use the following words to fill in the missing words.
narrower time disproportion discharge
insignificant computation risk
"Reasonably practicable is a
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term than
physically possible and seems to me to imply that a
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must be made by the owner in which the quantum of
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is placed on
one scale and the
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involved in the measures necessary for
averting the risk (whether in money,
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or trouble) is placed in
the other, and that, if it be shown that there is a gross
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between them - the risk being
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in relation to the sacrifice
- the defendants
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the onus on them."
Physically practicable means anything that is physically possible, whereas when you replace with "reasonably" it narrows the number of possibilities - by adding costs to the equation.
'Computation' means a calculation has to be made - ie some simple maths.
'Risk' - This is the measure of the likelihood of damage being done.
'Sacrifice' is a curious word that means "give up"
'Time' means you can add the time taken to implement control measures into the computation on whether to introduce these measures.
'Disproportion' means the balance between the costs to introduce controls compared to costs of injury.
'insignificant' means that the risk of injury must be very small compared to large amounts of time/money spent on control.
'Discharge' means that if the costs seriously outweigh the risks the employer is not liable.
What is "practicable" and "reasonably practicable"
Identify the best practicable option for reducing risks.
Reasonably Practicable Activity