Beware: Inadequate Risk Assessments
December 1st 2005

The risk assessment division of TDT Machine Guarding is concerned by the findings of recent risk assessment surveys.

It is quite common for companies to train operatives to carry out risk assessments on their own equipment. However, TDT has found that it seems to be a case of 'familiarity breeds contempt', with many hazards being overlooked because employees are not being sufficiently objective.

It cites the example of a company where machine guarding had not been fitted because the local risk assessor deemed the operator to be skilled and, as such, thought that guarding was not required. Clearly, the skill of the operator has no influence on the safety requirements of the machinery.

TDT's risk assessors take an unbiased view that leads to an appropriate risk assessment, enabling a company to prioritise the action required.

More articles from TDT Machine Guarding Ltd: