The DVR linked to the concept of health and safety is a document of great importance within a company, as it contains the assessment of the risks present within the workplace and all the work phases of each individual task. The preparation of the Risk Assessment Document is the responsibility of the Employer and, in doing so, it is preferable to request the support of professionals. Let’s find out the details of the safety DVR, its function and the advantages of asking for the support of companies specialized in occupational safety consulting.
What is DVR?
The Risk Assessment Document (DVR as Documento di Valutazione dei Rischi) is a document that is drawn up by the Employer with the help of the Health and Safety Manager (RSPP as Responsabile del Servizio di Prevenzione e Protezione) and the Competent Doctor (if any), after consultation with the Workers’ Safety Representative (RLS as Rappresentante dei Lavoratori per la Sicurezza).
According to the provisions of Article 28 of Legislative Decree 81/08 the DVR is configured as a map of the risks present in the company and of all the measures (preventive and protective) that can be adopted, to prevent harmful events that may have repercussions on workers. These include, for example, accidents and occupational diseases.
Through the DVR, the Employer undertakes to provide a precise assessment of all potential risks that may derive from the company’s activity, working to remove or manage them through preventive measures (e.g. training, staff shifts, etc.) or protective measures (e.g. supply of PPE as Personal Protective Equipment and CPE as Collective Protective Equipment). The document refers not only to the working environment, but also includes the assessment of the risks related to the equipment and machinery used, any biological and chemical / carcinogenic substances used, the rhythms of work and the physical and psychological consequences that the performance of certain tasks may have on workers.
It should be emphasized that the Risk Assessment Document (DVR) must be drawn up in compliance with the specifications required by law (Legislative Decree 81/08) and must not be limited to generically describing the company, the main activities and the organization chart, but, fundamentally, must propose effective and timely suggestions to limit and manage all the risks (real and potential) that can be grouped into the following three categories:
- SAFETY RISKS (Accident risks)
- HEALTH RISKS (Environmental hygienic risks)
- SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS (so-called cross-cutting risks)
It is immediately clear how the drafting of the Risk Assessment Document is a complex activity and, consequently, it is essential to make use of qualified professionals who can provide their support so that the DVR is drawn up in a complete manner and in compliance with current legislation. To do this, it is necessary to analyze each step of the company’s work phases and, for each one, to quantify and appropriately evaluate the specific risks.
Who should write the DVR?
According to the provisions of Legislative Decree 81/08, it is the Employer who must take care of the drafting of the Risk Assessment Document. This obligation cannot be delegated.
The latter has the obligation to make use of the support of qualified figures including:
- RSPP (Head of the Prevention and Protection Service)
- Competent doctor (if any)
- External consultants (in case there is not adequate internal expertise to prepare all risk assessments)
At the same time, it should not be forgotten that paragraph 3 of Article 29 of Legislative Decree 81/08 explicitly indicates the obligation to consult the Workers’ Safety Representative (RLS) for the drafting of the DVR.
The reason for the involvement of so many figures in the drafting of the DVR lies in the concrete importance of the DVR, as an analysis tool to be able to catalog all the dangers in a accurate manner, quantify them and proceed to their elimination or reduction through an improvement plan.
By contacting professionals in the sector, it is therefore possible to create a DVR that not only contains an improvement program, but also the assessment documents of specific risks (eg: chemical risk, physical risk, fire risk, work-related stress risk).
Eventually, by choosing to rely on consulting companies for safety at work, you can count on the processing, delivery in certain times and above all explanation of the document itself, as well as on its updating according to current legislation and company procedures.
When do I need to update my DVR?
With regard to the timing of drafting the DVR, the Employer has 90 days from the date of establishment of a new company to process the document.
It is also essential that the DVR is periodically reviewed and in any case whenever the following changes occur:
- significant changes in the company organization (purchase of new tools or machinery, restructuring, removals, organizational changes)
- in the event of serious accidents or occupational diseases
- whether the results of health surveillance indicate the need for it
- in the event of new appointments within the security organisation chart
- in the event of regulatory updates that imply a revision
Are you looking for support for DVR drafting? Let’s stay in touch!
If you are looking for professional and qualified support for the drafting of the company DVR, Safetyone Ingegneria Srl is the ideal partner. Our decades of experience in the sector, has led us for years to meet the needs of numerous companies throughout the national territory.