SELECT, the electricians’ trade body in Scotland, has added to the extensive portfolio of services it offers to its members with a new tool to assist with producing vital risk assessment information and guidance.
The organisation has entered into an arrangement with the Building Safety Group (BSG) to provide Member companies with online risk assessment software which will also help them to remain compliant with their regulatory obligations.
BSG is a not-for-profit organisation which specialises in providing health, safety and environmental advice for the construction industry. With more than 800 members, it is recognised as the UK’s leading expert.
Under the agreement, SELECT member companies will be able to log in to BSG’s system, where they will be able to access more than 70 different types of risk assessment template.
Dave Forrester, Head of Technical Services at SELECT, said: “Conducting regular risk assessments is essential for managing the health, safety and environmental welfare of everyone affected by a business. This includes site operatives, sub-contractors, office staff and in-house maintenance teams as well as the general public.
“This new alliance with BSG will open up to our Members a tried and tested means not only of ensuring workplace and public safety but also of meeting the legal requirements enshrined in health and safety provision.”
Under the current regime, employers are required to make an assessment of the health and safety risks to which employees and others are exposed on construction sites. Significant findings must be recorded where five or more people are employed.
Certain regulations require risk assessments for specific hazards such as working at height and dealing with hazardous substances, as well as manual handling, noise, vibration and lead.
Each BSG template is pre-configured with its own set of unique control measures relevant to the hazard. Users apply a risk rating for each hazard appraised, using BSG’s 5 x 5 risk evaluation matrix. The matrix will automatically calculate scores based on risk severity and likelihood.
Users can then apply a residual risk rating once the control measures have been considered. After an assessment has been completed, it can be saved as a PDF before being emailed to the site location where the construction work is taking place.
Member companies can register for the new service using their SELECT contact details.
SELECT’s 1250 member companies account for around 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland. They have a collective turnover of around £1 billion and provide employment for 15,000 people.
For more information please contact Alan Wilson, Acting Managing Director at SELECT, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian, EH26 0SB. T: 0131 445 5577. F: 0131 445 5548. E: admin@select.org.uk. W: www.select.org.uk
