Health and Safety on Non-routine Tasks

Health and Safety on Non-routine Tasks

Most operators will have risk assessments covering routine and regular tasks, but what about special, one-off or non-routine tasks; what do you need to do to ensure your workers’ safety?

Operators may be prosecuted if safe systems of work are not in place; see this example of what happened when a worker suffered a fractured skull while on a non-routine task.

The operator sent three workers to remove an old excavator, but when they got to the scene to carry out the task they found that the excavator couldn’t be moved with the tools they had with them. At this point they improvised, resulting in one of the workers sustaining a fractured skull.

It was found that the operator had failed to ensure that these workers had a safe system of work for this non-routine task. Firms need to ensure that, before sending any worker to perform a non-routine task, they have the necessary tools for the job and can ensure that the workers know how to perform the task safely.

Non-routine tasks often won’t be covered by risk-assessments, so it is necessary to ensure that a risk assessment is carried out and a safe system of work developed.

A guide to performing risk assessments may be downloaded from our download area (select the HSE tab then Risk Assessments) or directly from HSE. We can also offer training on risk assessments and auditing of your health and safety procedures.

For more help, contact us or consider Transport Manager Refresher training.