PMCI - May 2016

INDUSTRY
UPDATE WE
KEEP WATCH SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO
Things change constantly and rapidly within the contracting industry so this month in the latest
of a series of regular columns from Paul Hutchinson, MD of Associated Risks Group based in the
UK, he takes a look at threat and risk assessment which is avoided at your peril!
ATeam Leader is responsible overall for ensuring
that any Threat and Risk Assessment (TRA) is
compiled accurately, recorded and updated. It is
not their sole responsibility to conduct the TRA,
as everyone has a responsibility to minimise risk,
but, ensure that the team fully understands the
assessment process and the TL utilise those with
the necessary training, knowledge and experience
to assist in the TRA process. They must also ensure
that not only the individuals who have the knowledge to assist in
the TRA, but all the operatives who carry out the task have the
ability to propose and suggest any necessary actions with regards
to the TRA and the entire operation, they must also ensure that
the team have all the sufficient background information to enable
them to base their decision on.
The TRA must obviously identify the level of threat, which lets
them recognise and then implement controlled measures against
the threat. The controlled measures must be based on good, safe
working practise in order to reduce the risk. Consideration must
be given to “Hold Points” anywhere in the task. Hold Points
will be assigned where there is potentially a high consequence
outcome which in turn requires a high degree of confidence
that the defined controls are effective. This then establishes the
Residual Risk, which is the risk that remains after the controlled
measures have been identified and put into place. If this residual
risk is acceptable, we can then carry on and document the TRA.
When documenting the TRA it must be recorded onto a
proforma report that describes the task, lists the all the task
steps, explain the identified threat, distinguish those who may
be harmed and the initial Risk Rating.
CRITICAL REVIEW
A critical review consists of identifying, summarizing and
evaluating the ideas and information presented in the TRA. If
during this review anyone decides that the TRA is not thorough
enough then the TRA must be conducted again.
Communication is the process of transferring information from
one source to another. Over years of experience I know that if
something is to go wrong or has gone wrong, communication
is usually the issue. Therefore the TRA will depend on how
effectively it’s been communicated during all stages before,
during and after.
The very first thing the TL should do is to review the protective
security work the TL and the team will then commence an
assessment on the physical layout of the operation by means
of reconnaissance and scrutinising the previous TRA. The team’s
considerations will be various but will include many things such
as; the objective and necessary critical activities to ensure the
task will run effectively. Times and dates, will personal be working
alone and how will they be supervised correctly and efficiently.
Once the team are in agreement the Controls can be
implemented and the task can begin. It is at this stage that every
member of the team must continually conduct Dynamic Risk
Assessments during the activity to identify any further threats.
“The ability to predict and quantify a full menu of risks is the
CSO’s highest mark of excellence.”
INDUSTRY UPDATE
pmcimagazine.com