10th September 2008, 09:02 AM
"...have all site staff read the risk assessment (which covers entering potentially unsafe trenches)and then sign to say that they understood the document."
Except (in my experience) they *don't* generally cover entering trenches beyond saying something like 'exercise caution when entering the trench'. If someone truly believes they can safely stand within inches of a deep section, as long as they think they're 'exercising caution'... Hence my question about formal training.
(There's the side issue of whether or not a signed risk assessment would stand up in court, too!)
Except (in my experience) they *don't* generally cover entering trenches beyond saying something like 'exercise caution when entering the trench'. If someone truly believes they can safely stand within inches of a deep section, as long as they think they're 'exercising caution'... Hence my question about formal training.
(There's the side issue of whether or not a signed risk assessment would stand up in court, too!)