Risk Assesments.. WTF?

[Frank]

For Australian Teams...

AS 4801 covers OHS management systems

It basically says that any organization can delegate the responsibility of completing risk identification and assessment to any personnel (including contractors) that they deem suitable.

BUT it says nothing about students of institutions (or volunteer workers).

Personally, I find it onerous for an FSAE team member to be responsible for documenting activities, and producing risk assessments for team activities.

My question is.

Does your university make undergraduate students complete risk assessments of team activities OR does a supervisor / OHS rep do this for you.

Regards

Frank

As you can imagine our University is again washing its hands of us, refusing to spend money on OHS, yet demanding "COMPLIANCE YOU LOT!"� from ivory towers. (fear of reprisal syndrome).

I'm becoming cynical that all they care about is that the IEAUST sees the project as a "practical teaching component"� (even though less than 2% of mechanical engineering students do the project) ((and I've designed more than 75% of the modifications, again!))

[Frank]

For Australian Teams...

AS 4801 covers OHS management systems

It basically says that any organization can delegate the responsibility of completing risk identification and assessment to any personnel (including contractors) that they deem suitable.

BUT it says nothing about students of institutions (or volunteer workers).

Personally, I find it onerous for an FSAE team member to be responsible for documenting activities, and producing risk assessments for team activities.

My question is.

Does your university make undergraduate students complete risk assessments of team activities OR does a supervisor / OHS rep do this for you.

Regards

Frank

As you can imagine our University is again washing its hands of us, refusing to spend money on OHS, yet demanding "COMPLIANCE YOU LOT!"� from ivory towers. (fear of reprisal syndrome).

I'm becoming cynical that all they care about is that the IEAUST sees the project as a "practical teaching component"� (even though less than 2% of mechanical engineering students do the project) ((and I've designed more than 75% of the modifications, again!))

[Jarrod]

we have been through all of that fun, and just got a new OH&S rep this month, have a meeting on friday, so may even get to do it again. We had to prepare risk identifications, safe work instructions, the whole kit, for every tool in our workshop. At one point they asked us to prepare a risk assessment for the installation of our lathe and mill, even though they were already in place, and just needed to be wired, which was done by a licensed tradesman anyway? Can you possibly imagine an academic sitting in his office preparing OH&S documentation when they can just as easily say "you guys do it or you can't use your machines" ?

[markocosic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Frank:
It basically says that any organization can delegate the responsibility of completing risk identification and assessment to any personnel (including contractors) that they deem suitable.

BUT it says nothing about students of institutions (or volunteer workers).
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Producing risk assessements for certain activities is a good idea IMO, and the people best placed to do it are the FSAE team members.

I guess you suspect the institution will ask for pencil-sharpening and arse-wiping risk assessements rather than the (genuinely useful) vehicle failure mode analysis or vehicle testing risk assessements?

I'd say contractors are "employees"; Volunteer workers are "employees"; Students are "customers" and watch the OHS rep gag on that... http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Ashley Denmead]

Hi Frank and Jarrod,

Sounds like a carbon copy of what we deal with on a day by day basis! documentation is evil. i would say what you describe at monash was an extreme case jarrod and seems ridiculous. I'm betting the new OH&S rep you have is John Whale (JW), really nice guy, and we always had a great repore with him at deakin, was sorry to see him leave. i'm sure he'll look after you too. just tell him that if he doesnt he wont be able to come and have beers in the GTP anymore http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Ash

[Moke]

Ah risk assesments, we completed one late last night.

After much deliberation we decided dragging a car seat bolted to a wooden frame with skids behind our shop scooter (moke-bike) in pouring rain was a bad idea.

1st with no brakes on the bike it was hard to stop, 2nd the bald rear tyre lacked traction and 3rd and most importantly we couldn't go fast enough!

So the selection of one Toyota Landcruiser allowed for greater speed and bigger drifts, also it provides space for the camera man and laughing team members.

Extra safety features were introduced after the safety pvc raincoat and matching pants proved insufficient for abrasion resistance. The wearing of helmet and padded jacket is now optionally mandatory in all drift chair excursions.

I must add we have never had an accident in the workshop, outside it, well.....

[robbo]

you mentioned cameraman moke? any pics available...clips?

frank... agreed. Although i think it is a great learning experience for industry, often it is unnecessary for some of the things that require one. agree with jarrod too