Risk Assessment

Nic CarstensHealth & Safety Officer

Tel: 0208 891 7111schooljourney@richmond.gov.uk

n.carstens@richmond.gov.uk

What’s a risk then?

• A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. .

The point behind it

• 2004/05, 220 people were killed and over 150,000 were injured at work because of a failure to manage risk.

• protect your most valuable asset, your employees & children.

• Forces you to pre-plan and live the journey BEFORE you leave.

• Legal requirement

Step 1 - Identify the hazards

• Visit the centre first before taking the children

• Ask professionals and course leaders for advice and guidance

• Obtain centre risk assessments & read them

• Past accidents??

• Keep it realistic, no meteors or earthquakes!

• Have other schools gone before?

Step 2 - Decide who might be harmed and how

• Employees

• Volunteers

• Children

• Other people such as visitors

• Think about how your hazard will effect them or what damage it could cause.

Step 3 - Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

• Have you done enough?

• Could you do more?

• Is there a less dangerous alternative?

• You are rating the risk before the controls are in place

Step 4 - Record your findings and implement them

• You must record the findings

• It might take time to fine tune an assessment

• Use the risk assessment form provided

Step 5 - Review your risk assessment and update if

necessary • If anything happens, review the

assessment – can you add anything

• Annual reviews, or review in organising the journey

• Groups will change, always consider dynamics

• Things change – fact of life!

ITEM/ISSUE HAZARD/POSSIBLE OUTCOME

PERSONS AT RISK RISK LEVEL CONTROLS REQUIRED

FURTHER ACTION

Step 1 (general )

Step 1 (specific) Step 2 Step 2 Step 3 ? - React

Laptop Use Back strain User M •Laptop stand•Desk, mouse & keyboard•Work breaks•etc

Review in 6 months, possible desktop unit for office

Dynamic Assessment• Decision based on circumstances

• Blocked road, damaged equipment, dangerous crowd, gas leak etc…..

• Use experience and common sense

• May not be recorded

Risk Exercise…

• As a head teacher I have asked you to take a group of 18 year 6 children to the playground to go on the newly constructed play facility for as photo opportunity. The playground is a short walk away across a few minor roads. The group is well behaved. What controls would you have in place – use the risk assessment form supplied.

Key Issues

• How many staff

• First Aid

• Communication

• Walking procedures

• Pre-visit?

• Which teachers?

Questions?