2.8A Assess the suitability of explosives facilities

This unit identifies the competences you need to assess an organisation's safety management system.

Your responsibilities will require you to gather and validate relevant information and confirm the intended use, operation/functioning of the explosive substance or article and its intended environments. You need to validate the information provided, ensure that all identified hazards and risks have been recorded and evaluate the suitability of the facilities against the agreed criteria. You should
obtain the necessary approval to your assessment and report your findings in the appropriate format. On occasions, the information provided may be complete, and on others, it will be incomplete. You will assess the suitability of facilities that you prove to be suitable and others that prove to be not suitable.

You should carry out assessments of facilities that are proposed or new and for which a change of requirements is needed. You will be required to report any problems with the explosive safety management activities that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority to the relevant people. You will be expected to work to verbal/written instructions and standard
operating procedures with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you and your team carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work and will enable you to adopt an informed approach to understanding the organisation's explosives-related activities relevant to the facility, what might constitute a hazard and how to apply risk assessment criteria. You will have an understanding of the attributes and behaviours required for working
safely in adequate depth to provide a sound background for carrying out the safety management activities to the required specification.

You will understand the precautions required when carrying out the safety management activities for explosive substances and articles. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand your responsibility for taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others in the workplace.