MarstonValeForestSchool Risk Assessment

Site Assessment:
Date: / Time:
Leader: Shona Perrett / First Aider: Shona Perrett
Description of site:
Hazard / Who is at Risk? / What could happen? / Short Term Action / Long Term Action / Level of Risk
Canopy Layer
deadwood in overhead trees,
leaning dead trees / Everyone / Head injury
Concussion
Loss of life / Site visit just before session
Avoid sitting under large trees
Check weather for windy conditions / Maintenance / 1 / 4 / 4
Shrub Layer
deadwood in smaller trees,
leaning smaller trees / Everyone / Head injury
Concussion
Loss of life / Site visit just before session
Avoid sitting under large trees
Check weather for windy conditions / Maintenance / 1 / 4 / 4
Field Layer
branches sticking out at eye level, brambles,
poisonous or
prickly plants and berries / Everyone / Minor cuts and scrapes
Eye damage
Trips and falls
Eat / Swallow
Allergic Reaction
Poisoning / Site visit just before session
Verbal warnings
Pace of session (walk don’t run)
Appropriate clothing
Verbal warnings (nil by mouth)
First Aid Kit & Medical Information / Maintenance
Nil by mouth policy
Ensure you know what plants / berries are on site – remove if necessary / 2 / 1 / 4
Ground Layer
hidden logs lying in the grass
broken glass, rubbish & rusty metal
fungi
boggy areas
holes in ground / Everyone / Trips and falls
Poisoning / Site visit just before session
Appropriate footwear
Verbal warnings (nil by mouth)
Pace of session (walk don’t run)
Avoid problem areas
Children Risk Assess using Red Flags / Maintenance / 2 / 2 / 4
Structures
benches, play equipment / Everyone / Slips, trips, falls / Site visit just before session
Appropriate footwear and clothing
Verbal warnings (equipment out of bounds) / Maintenance / 1 / 2 / 2
Boundaries around the site / Everyone / Children go off site
Strangers can enter
Dogs / Site visit just before session
Rope off / avoid any damaged fencing
Verbal warning
Correct ratios / Maintenance / 1 / 1 / 1
Stings / Everyone / Allergic reaction / Pre site visit for nests
First Aid Kit & Medical Information
Suitable clothing
Avoid areas / Maintenance / 1 / 4 / 4
Animals on site / Everyone / Infection from ticks, faeces andrat urine / Site visit just before session
Verbal warning (nil by mouth)
Carry gloves, bags and sanitizer / Nil by mouth policy / 1 / 4 / 4
Weather / Everyone / Too Hot (heat exhaustion / sun burn)
Too Cold (hyperthermia) / Appropriate clothing
Fluids
First Aid Kit / Check weather conditions before session / 1 / 2 / 2
L – Likelihood of Occurrence / C – Likely Consequences / R – Risk Rating
  1. Negligible
  2. Little chance but could happen
  3. May happen
  4. Likely to happen
  5. Almost inevitable
/
  1. Slight (cuts and bruises)
  2. Minor injury (under 3 day injury)
  3. Major injury (Riddor)
  4. Fatality
  5. Several Fatalities
/ 1 – 4. Acceptable Risk
5-12. Additional controls required
13.18. Urgent attention required
19 – 25. Unacceptable risk – cease activity
Aim 1-4 Acceptable Risk