Work responsibilities - advice needed.

Acc72

**Juice** wrote: »

I was given this as part of my job a while ago and just did it without a second thought - no training or recompense or anything. I just took it as a reasonable duty to carry out - it was just a tick sheet that clearly listed what it is you're looking for e.g. fire doors in good condition, fire extinguishers in place etc.

It depends on what you have been asked to do, and what the overall company structure is with regards to H&S.

Your approach is fine - until something goes wrong. These days people are quick to find somebody to blame so that they can contact their local no win - no fee solicitor.

Although it may not be you personally who is sued, in reality the company will not like being sued and could then make things difficult for the person they believe was "at fault".

**Juice**

Like I said, it was ticking a sheet with standard questions on that were easy to understand - I'm sure if I'd asked for any clarification or was unsure of anything I'd have been given training.

The other thing you need to be clear about is who to escalate things to if the h&s checks flag up something that isn't right.

Sambucus_Nigra

**Juice** wrote: »

Like I said, it was ticking a sheet with standard questions on that were easy to understand - I'm sure if I'd asked for any clarification or was unsure of anything I'd have been given training.

The other thing you need to be clear about is who to escalate things to if the h&s checks flag up something that isn't right.

How do you know if something isn't right if you have had no training?

planning303

You're judging based on you personal opinion using that thing called common sense that apparently was left in a cupboard about 10 years ago!!!

Health and safety really doesn't have to be as painfully dragged out as people make it.

In my workplace managers regularly do these walk rounds that the OP and others have described. We regularly get shop floor operators to conduct these walk arounds to get a different view on things.

The only training that i would suggest is that the first time you do the walk round have someone more experienced with you so that you can get a feel for the scoring criteria and are scoring consistantly.

honestly people it's not rocket science and you are not being made responsible for the businesses health and safety just because you have performed a fairly routine audit!

There will be a senior manager that is ultimately responsible for the H&S of the site, that manager will end up in the dock over manslaughter, not you

Sambucus_Nigra

liggins wrote: »

You're judging based on you personal opinion using that thing called common sense that apparently was left in a cupboard about 10 years ago!!!

No, I'm basing it on the difference between something being a tick box exercise and having some clue about what it is being 'tick boxed'.

Just because someone has a clip board doesn't make them an aficionado of 'common sense'.

muddyl

We have an estates manager who is top for health and safety. But yes have about 4 sites, he's based on another one and getting hold of him or getting anything done is a nightmare.

As i'm at a college, we have a lot of students, some of which would just at the chance to put a claim in if possible, increasing the likely hood of anything "going wrong" should a mistake be made.

I'll see what happens in my meeting tomorrow and go on from there.

ohreally

liggins wrote: »

honestly people it's not rocket science and you are not being made responsible for the businesses health and safety just because you have performed a fairly routine audit!

In what respect is this an audit? It is, at best, a health and safety walkabout with a check sheet.

The person conducting this exercise should have a working knowledge of h&s legislation in general and (imho) a good grasp of PUWER and the duty therein placed on the employer.

planning303

without seeing the exact paperwork that OP is expected to fill out we are all having to make assumptions.

And i would assume that it will be something like a list of 20 questions for each area with things like:

Check the fire escapes arn't blocked? / Are lights working? / Are keys left in unattended forklift trucks etc

You really feel that someone should have a working knowledge of h&s legislationin order to answers these fairly basic questions!

hcb42

I agree with Liggins, these have been done routinely in any place I have ever worked and there is no special training required - they are checklists and would not rqeuire any special knowledge of the law. Hubby is an HS&E manager and has a similar approach. I would have hoped that all the risks in the department have already been identified and staff trained in correct procedures anyway, if not there is action point no 1...!

Where the problem might be if any, is if something is wrong e.g.. there is a trip hazard or a blocked fire exit, or whatever that the OP is able to write this honestly, and it will be taken seriously and not swept under the carpet as it were.