HC Risk Assessment and Method Statement Docs for Highway Defect Inspections & Measurements
Case reference FOI2026/01229
Received 28 May 2026
Published 19 June 2026
Request
Can you provide risk assessment and method statement documents which are in place for the inspection and measurement of highway defects - with these matters shortly to be the sole responsibility of Herefordshire Council.
Please do not provide any documents which relate to the works carried out by BBLP.
If not included in the document, please also provide detail on:
- The safe system of work and hierarchy of risk management which had been considered in the formulation of these RA/MS.
- Any cross-reference to publicly available documents to health and safety executive guidance on highway working, specifically lone highway working.
- Any hierarchy of risk depending on the road speed and type.
- What mitigation in terms of active traffic management is considered.
Please could you also include how these RAMS link to your highway maintenance plan and inspection methodology.
Response
Can you provide risk assessment and method statement documents which are in place for the inspection and measurement of highway defects - with these matters shortly to be the sole responsibility of Herefordshire Council.
Please do not provide any documents which relate to the works carried out by BBLP.
If not included in the document, please also provide detail on:
- The safe system of work and hierarchy of risk management which had been considered in the formulation of these RA/MS.
- Any cross-reference to publicly available documents to health and safety executive guidance on highway working, specifically lone highway working.
- Any hierarchy of risk depending on the road speed and type.
- What mitigation in terms of active traffic management is considered.
Please could you also include how these RAMS link to your highway maintenance plan and inspection methodology.
Answer: The Highway Maintenance Plan is the method statement document which ensures highway defect inspections are carried out safely and consistently. These cover both walked and driven inspections and are based on legal requirements and recognised industry guidance.
This information is publically available on our council website and can be viewed via the following link:
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/media/cbikk0pn/highway_maintenance_plan.pdf
Please see page 30 for the risk assessments information.
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
The Service Area have also advised the following about the Highway Maintenance Plan:
The approach follows the standard hierarchy of risk control; avoiding risks where possible (e.g. using vehicle inspections), applying safe systems of work where needed, and supporting these with training, TBTs, procedures, and PPE. Inspectors also carry out dynamic risk assessments on site.
The arrangements align with HSE guidance, including lone working. Lone working supported by communication and monitoring procedures using the ‘Peoplesafe’ app which is activated at the start of the day. This has several functions including ‘check ins’ which allow inspectors to create a time window, if the inspector has not checked back in after the activity created the Peoplesafe operations room will start the escalation process to ensure the worker is safe and contactable.
Herefordshire Council takes a practical and balanced approach to safety by looking at both what’s gone wrong and what can be improved before something happens. They review past incidents and accidents to understand where things have failed and to learn lessons. At the same time, they focus on everyday safety activities such as inspections, training and staff engagement to identify risks early and prevent harm.
Employees are encouraged to raise safety observations to prevent accidents, protect the public, and ensure legal compliance. By identifying hazards early, staff help address risks before they escalate into near misses and incidents.
Risk and controls vary depending on road type and speed. Higher-speed roads require vehicle-based inspections, while lower-speed roads allow more flexibility with walked inspections under controlled conditions.
If requested traffic management measures such as signage, cones, signals, and high-visibility vehicles are used proportionately to protect both workers and road users.
Overall, the Risk Assessments are closely linked to the Council’s Highway Maintenance Plan and inspection regime, ensuring inspections are delivered safely while supporting a consistent, risk-based approach to maintaining the network.
Documents
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