Health & safety bulletin
Clearance Certificates: Why Get Them Signed And Who They Protect
26th February 2009
Why do we bother to complete clearance certificates?
Are they just there to protect the company?
The simple answer is.....they are there to protect EVERYONE!
FACTS
- Clearance certificates protect YOU and THE COMPANY against prosecution in the event of an accident
- Clearance certificates can only protect you if they are SIGNED
- Clearance certificates are your PROOF that the site operator has given you PERMISSION TO WORK, and is taking RESPONSIBILITY for you presence on site
- Clearance certificates provide PROOF that you have DISCUSSED AND AGREED the work that will be undertaken with the site operator
- In the event of an accident, without a SIGNED clearance certificate, site operators may claim they didn't know you were on-site.. leaving you to take the BLAME
THE LAW
Section 3 of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Act etc 1974 specifies that the site operator is ultimately responsible for safety on that site, so legally must give you permission to work before you start work.
Section 9 of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 specifies that work must be discussed before it commences.
Please always ensure that you ASSESS the site specific risks, RECORD them on the clearance certificate and get it SIGNED.