This is my last post on Hugh's thread...just for continuity
The whole point about an RA is not to cover every eventuality (weather change for instance) in anal detail. The point of an RA is to show that you have considered possibilities and are prepared to change your plan as you go along.
H. You have referred to an RA being refused before - by the HSE and someone else? Over here (not sure about NIron, but cant see it being different) the HSE dont refuse RAs...they dont get RAs and only look at RAs as part of an inspection (they are now few and far between) or an investigation.
I'd like to know more about that case - can you PM me?
If the HSE had to be sent them, they would disappear under a pile of paper in seconds!
In my experience its very rare for an RA to be refused by anyone, unless it is basically blank. What may happen is there may be a clarification asked for or where an aspect of the multiplication score gets to high that activity (or part of activity) may be questioned.
There is all sorts of misinformation and just plain crap circulating about H+S that people take as gospel (I once had a short email discussion with a school headteacher who was adamant that DoE expeditions had been banned by the DFES, untrue, that there is no requirment for a school to have a medical room, untrue, and there is a requirement for schools to provide first aid for pupils, illogically untrue but strongly advised.)!
There is dynamic risk assessment i.e as you go along and unwritten and your written RA can (arguably IMHO should) refer to this process i.e. an entry of If anything material changes whilst the activity is taking place, the activity may be changed, cut short or abandoned as appropriate.
Its a catch all, but proves you have considered that the written RA cant and doesnt cover every eventuality, by the nature of plodding about shit happens..and you are prepared with a plan B, C, D,...Z.
Going back to Glenridding (and other enquiries), the teacher didnt have a written RA and, more to the point, even though he recieved advice that doing the activity was dangerous, carried on with his plan A regardless.
So many enquiries point to a circumastance occuring because the group is following the leader's plan or agenda and the leader hasnt altered his plan or agenda to allow for a change in circumstances.
This is hi-jacking Hugh's thread, so I am going to start a new one on this subject
