HC Deb 22 March 1996 vol 274 cc390-1W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 419, if he will place in the Library copies of the risk assessments carried out at the traffic area office in Leeds. [21819]

Mr. Norris

I am placing in the Library a summary report of the risk assessments carried out by the traffic area office in Leeds.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 419, for what reasons information is not readily available in respect of the dates of risk assessment; and if risk assessments have to be supplied in writing. [21818]

Mr. Norris

Risk assessments are a continuing activity that take place as changes occur at workstations and new equipment is provided. Risk assessments will take place over a period of time beginning with the issue of standard self-assessment sheets and culminating when sheets are returned and any action is taken to rectify any problems identified.

All information obtained from risk assessments is recorded locally and is available for inspection by local trade union health and safety representatives and staff.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 419, when he expects the risk assessments to be carried out in the south eastern and metropolitan office. [21820]

Mr. Norris

A professional risk assessment will be carried out at the South Eastern and Metropolitan traffic area office during April 1996.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 417, if he will list separately for each coastguard agency office the date when the last risk assessment was undertaken of the display screen equipment regulations and the workplace regulations. [21821]

Mr. Norris

The last date for which a risk assessment under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 was completed at Driving Standards Agency locations with display screen equipment was as follows:

  1. (a) DSA Headquarters, Stanley house, Nottingham—February 1996.
  2. (b) DSA training establishment, Cardington—December 1994.
  3. (c) DSA Scotland area office, Edinburgh—October 1995.
  4. (d) DSA Northern area office, Newcastle upon Tyne—March 1996.
  5. (e) DSA Midlands and Eastern area office, Birmingham—December 1995.
  6. (f) DSA Wales and Western area office, Cardiff—February 1994.
    7. 391
  7. (g) DSA London and South-Eastern area office, London—the DSE risk assessment process needs to reflect a recent office reorganisation and will be completed by the end of April 1996.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require certain standards to be met—on lighting, heating, etc.—but do not require formal risk assessments to be undertaken. However, in view of the size of the DSA estate, with some 450 properties throughout Great Britain, a checklist containing the detailed requirements of these regulations was developed and issued to each DSA location in May 1995 to assist them in establishing priorities for local work.