The RCT Source

Yes, in the following documents in particular:

• Managing for Health and Safety (published by the Health and Safety Executive);
• Plan, Do, Check, Act - An Introduction to Managing for Health and Safety(published by the Health and Safety Executive);
• Policy HS6 – Management of Health and Safety at Work (a Council Policy);
• Site and Building Managers Guide to Health and Safety in Offices (a Council guidance document);
• Registered Managers Guide to Health and Safety in Residential Care Homes for Elderly People (a Council guidance document);
• Site Managers Guide to Health and Safety in Day Centres (a Council guidance document);
• Site and Building Managers Guide to Health and Safety in Leisure Centres (a Council guidance document);
• Head Teachers Site Management Guide to Health and Safety in Primary Schools (a Council guidance document).

Yes – in the following documents in particular:

• Five Steps to Risk Assessment (published by the Health and Safety Executive);
• Policy HS6 – Management of Health and Safety at Work (a Council policy);
• Risk Assessment – A Guide for Managers (a Council guidance document).

Ultimately it is the employer, i.e. the Council, who is responsible for ensuring that risk assessments are carried out.                                                                                

In practice, it is the manager who has been delegated the responsibility for ensuring that risk assessments are carried out, and that they are carried out by competent persons. 

In a lot of instances, risk assessments will be undertaken by line managers in consultation with the employees doing the work.

In some instances, where the management of the relevant work or associated hazards and risks is of a complicated and/or specialised nature, such as hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), fire safety risk assessments of large buildings, the control of exposure to noise, it may be necessary to employ outside expertise.