Page 972 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 356

09 May 2013

Review of Clearance Certificates / Last Minute Risk Assessment

As part of our continual improvement process, we have an on-going programme of reviewing the quality and
content of all site teams’ clearance certificates and whether Last Minute Risk Assessments were being
implemented and documented.

Every month a set of paperwork from every site team is picked at random and checked by our Operations
Manager (Peter Barker) for accuracy, compliance and site specific hazards.

The findings are then feed back to our Field Service Managers who then discuss these with the crews and give
360 degree feedback and guidance/advice where necessary.

Positive, as well as constructive feedback is given in the same way that we encourage our site teams to record
positive comments directly relating to the employee’s knowledge and attitude when doing a (F1.3.1) peer-on-
peer safety audit.

We have seen some excellent improvements in the quality of documentation and the perception and control
measures applied to site specific hazards, however, some of the areas that we have highlighted for
improvement with some teams are as follows:-

➢ Using too many generic hazards already listed in the JSA (Job Safety Analysis) within the LMRA
section (page 2 of the clearance certificate)
➢ Not always applying the principles of the LMRA within their clearance certificate
➢ Insufficient detail shown in the description of work (page 1 of the clearance certificate)
➢ Incorrect application and evaluation of the risk consequences, in these instances it was noted that the
JSA had a higher risk consequence than the entry made on the LMRA
➢ Not always completing a new clearance certificate for a different task. There is a common failure to
separate removing canopy signage and removing a PID/MID or working at height and working on the
forecourt at ground level.
➢ Identifying the different hazards between a live site and a closed site, and making mention if the site is
closed or live in the job description (so a picture can be built up of the job and the likely hazards for
someone conducting a Desk Top Review of the hazards and control measures implemented.

Our aim is to continue to improve the awareness of every employee and deliver training where necessary by
giving 360 degree feedback. Our Field Services managers play a key role in working closely with the crews to
increase their understanding and comprehension of the various elements which are required and go to make up
the Clearance Certificate / LMRA and ensure that we identify all hazards and eliminate those that we are able
to.