It should be emphasised that these generic risk assessment are based on operational incident types. They provide information that brigades will need to evaluate and sometimes adapt, in order to cater for the particular risks and circumstances within individual brigades. Out-comes from this process must be recorded. The GRA's will be evaluated, reviewed and revised as necessary. Further GRA's are also likely to be produced. In some cases specialised work being carried out by brigades may require further more detailed assessment under specific legislation, such as:

• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, 1994
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

It is imperative that brigades use these assessments as part of their own risk assessment strategy not as an alternative or substitute for it. They are designed to help brigades assess their own risks, so they should be included in the brigade's normal planning process. It is suggested that competent assessors start by:

• Checking the validity of the the brigade's current practices against the information contained in the generic risk assessment and identifying any additional/ alternative hazards, risks and control measures.
• Re-evaluating the severity and likelihood of hazards causing harm and the efficacy of current controls, for example, operational procedures, training and PPE etc., by using either the brigade's methodology or that defined in the CACFOA's Guide to Risk Assessments. (MHSWR reg 3)
• Considering other regulatory requirements.
• Identifying additional measures which will be needed to reduce the risk, so far as is reasonable practicable. (MHSWR reg 3 & 4)
• Putting those additional measures and arragenments in place by :-
  • Ensuring that the risk assessment is 'suitable and sufficient'. (MHSWR reg 3 (1))
  • Ensuring that significant findings are recorded. (MHSWR reg 3 (4))
  • Setting risk assessment review dates. (MHSWR reg 3 &4)
  The additional measures and arrangements are likely to include:
  
• Health surveillance (MHSWR Reg 5)
• Requirements for training. (MHSWR Reg 11)
• Analysing the need for further advice (MHSWR Reg6)
• Arrangements for foreseeable events of serious or imminent danger. (MHSWR Peg 7)
• Information which should be provided to employees for the purpose of health and safety. (MHSWR reg 8)
• Arrangements for cooperation and coordination with other employers ( MHSWR Peg 9)
  
  The detailed information contained in the generic risk assessment provides a guide to what type of information, arrangements and training that should be given to the officer in charge and firefighters. The bullet list can be customised to provide a very useful aide memoire for incident commanders.

• the assessment outcomes are implemented into the Brigade's Operational/Training Management Information system.
• any remedial action identified, is prioritised and included into the Brigade's Health and Safety Plan for resourcing.
• arrangements are in place for the ongoing review and the continuous improvement of:
  • risk assessments
  • hazard identification, and
  • the brigade's health and safety management systems in general

Implementation of the findings of the risk assessments will be examined as part of the statutory inspections conducted by HM Fire Service Inspectorate. The HSE will also continue to conduct statutory inspections, to ensure good health and safety practice is being developed and maintained

In addition the generic risk assessments in volume three will undergo continuous monitoring and review, the purpose of which is to :

• assess their utility to brigades
• monitorquality
• review the currency of content
• amend as necessary - through JSCOPT

The HMFSI will provide the lead for this process which will be achieved through the work of a focus group representing:

• FEPD
• HMFSI + HMFSI(S)
• CACFOA
• FBU
• CO-OPTED SPECIALISTS