Health And Safety Issues

[susanxx]

two queries today. I am doing a risk assessment for a multi floored building owned by a charity that conducts tours for the public but disabled access is only available on the ground floor. We have a volunteer who has mobility issues yet insists on doing tours of the building on all floors and has stated that she accepts full responsibilty should an accident happen to her. I have e-mailed the HSE but can expect a response within the next 30 days! My opinion is that she and others who have a physical impairment should not be allowed on any level other than the ground. The other problem is one of a volunteer being allowed to bring his motorbike into the building whilst he is working there. He then parks it in an alleyway which is signed towards a fire exit. The issues of the petrol tank or rather its contents is of concern to me. Your thoughts and ideas please.

[bednobs]

in what capacity are you doing this assessment?

[Obiter]

If you are doing a risk assessment I would have expected that you had the necessary training and qualifications to do so. Clearly, from your post, you do not.

[susanxx]

certainly like to express your opinion don't you Obiter!

[bednobs]

in what capacity are you doing this risk assessment for them? If you are hte boss, then you are perfectly able to say that you do not want physically impaired guides going to the upper floors, however, i can't really see why not. I use a wheelchair but work on the second floor of the building and have an evacuation plan in place in case of lift failure/fire. You are also perfectly welcome to tell the employees where they can and can't park on your premises.
If you are doing it as a consultant then just present them with your findings, and then it's up to them what steps they wish to take (or not)

[boxtops]

The motorbike is a hazaard and should not be permitted. Not only is it the potential fire risk as you say, but if people are directed down that corridor, possibly in the dark in the event of an incident, it impedes their way - all routes to fire exits must be kept clear. Fire Regulations are statutory, legal requirements, and must be adhered to.

This is very basic H&S - I am not sure why you have been asked to do this risk assessment. If H&S is deemed to be your responsibility then your employers really should be sending you on accredited risk assessment training before they ask you to do so.

[Maydup]

I think Susan may well be a volunteer too and as risk assessments are bets done by the users rather than an expensive consultant, I'm happier with her appointment!

I think the motorbike is easy. It must be parked away from the building not inside, and nothing should block that fire exit route.

The accessibility of the upper floors is trickier. What you need Susan, is an evacuation plan. If there was a lift to the upper floors, you would need to have a procedure for evacuating people in the event of emergency because the lift would not work.

So rather than ban people from this floor, work out how to rescue them if need be. Most common solution is to use an evacuation chair. Its best to think about this for those on the tour as well as the volunteers because you cannot ban the public from going up there. That would be discriminatory. Good luck with it.

[susanxx]

Thanks for the positive answers and comments, I have received an answer from the HSE but they are extrememly non-commital and indeed they have given no answers or direction whatsoever.