Reasonable judgement

This video explores the concept of reasonable judgement in occupational health and safety, particularly within the context of British law. It explains how professionals use reasonable foresight and practicability to assess and control risks, and how legal precedents have shaped the understanding of what constitutes "reasonable" behaviour. The video also introduces competency benchmarking as a tool for evaluating decisions.

Key Takeaways:

Define reasonableness using legal precedents and practical examples.
Apply competency benchmarking to support safety decisions.
Recognise the value of collective judgement in risk assessment.
Distinguish between public, technical, and expert knowledge categories.
Use stakeholder involvement to strengthen safety decisions.

How to use our resources

We recommend assessing your capability and building a personal development plan first. This helps you focus on resources that address your identified gaps. Then follow these three steps.

Learn – watch, listen or read

Choose a resource that matches your development goals. Take notes on the key points and insights. Think actively about what you’re learning.
Record in Blueprint

Log your activity as CPD activity in IOSH Blueprint. You’ll need the title, date, duration and a reflection of what you learned. Please note: the CPD hours listed for our resources are a guide as everyone learns at different paces.
Apply and reflect

Think about how you’ll apply what you’ve learned. What will you do differently? How will this improve your practice or skills.