EPAW: Risk Assessment
Environmental Practice @ Work
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  Risk Assessment...

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state that an employer:
"shall appoint competent persons to assist him (sic) in undertaking the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on him by or under the relevant statutory provisions". (7,1)

How can you demonstrate you are "competent"?

The law is vague: "a person shall be regarded as competent where he has sufficient training and experience or knowledge or other qualities to enable him to properly assist in undertaking the measures." (7,5)

Could new Vocationally Related Qualifications be the answer?

EP@W has opened up a new site to explore this question and try to provide answers and guidance. Go to Health & Safety Practices, in particular see H&S Drag n Drop which examines various roles and functions for H&S at level 3.

Try our quick Health and Safety Quiz to see what you need to know and do. This corresponds with level 3 H&S skills. We are now working for an Awarding Body (LANTRA Awards) to develop an online learning programme for a Level 3 qualification in Health & Safety (Agriculture/Horticulture). Risk Assessment is a crucial element in the programme.

A Level 3 Qualification in Risk Assessment Principles and Practice was accredited by QCA for CIEH in 2006.

 Risk Assess

How are H&S Risk Assessments connected with Environmental Risk Assessments?

You can use the techniques for carrying out a Health and Safety Risk Assessment to carry out an Environmental Risk Assessment. You do not have to be a consultant to carry out an environmental risk assessment. We can all do it, especially if we have already experience of risk assessment in Health & Safety. It is all a matter of assessing not the risks of 'Hazards' (as in H&S)  but the risks of 'Impacts' (on Environment). For more, look in Environmental Practitioner Programme.

ARE YOU INTERESTED? We are considerring (Spring 2007) developing an Environmental Risk Assessment online Guide, using H&S NOSs for Risk Assessment adapted to fit the DEFRA Environmental Risk Assessment. If you would like to be involved, please contact us.