Generic Risk Assessment for D of E Water Ventures
Title / Generic Risk Assessment for D of E Water Ventures / Risk Assessor / Mike BaxterMay 2017 revision / Leader in charge / <to be completed>
Please review the risk assessment and add any additional control measures required for your venture.
Groups of People at Risk / Venue/Locations / Date of expedition / Age Range
All participants / 14 to 25
SUMMARY OF RISKS / 1 / Environmental & Weather / 4 / River Hazards / 7 / Inappropriate behaviour
2 / Equipment & Transport / 5 / Stove Safety / 8 / Emergency Procedures
3 / Craft & loading with equipment / 6 / Food/water poisoning / 9 / Other General Risks
No / Summary of Risks / Control Measures / Check
1a / Environment & Weather
Hypothermia due to cold weather/wet/cold/capsize / a) Check weather forecast. Expeditions out of season need a variation and if weather too severe, cancel or amend expedition plans.
b) Pre kit check – suitable & spare clothing/hat/gloves or paddle mitts/foot protection and adequate waterproofs (top/bottom) for planned expedition. Training on avoiding getting wet & cold.
c) Group trained in First Aid to recognise signs of hypothermia & treatment.
d) Emergency equipment carried: group shelter or tent, survival bags and emergency rations/means of making hot drink.
1b / Heat exhaustion due to hot weather/lack of fluids (if weather conditions advise) / a) Pre kit check – each participant has 2 litres of water (minimum, more if possible) + sun hat/cream/keep skin covered.
b) Supervisor has 10 litres of water per group available for topping up during expedition/group to top up on route as possible.
c) In the event of extremely hot weather, groups should consider starting early in the morning, taking a long lunch break in the shade and continuing after the midday sun. Consider carrying lightweight tarp for shelter.
d) Group trained in first aid to recognise & deal with heat exhaustion.
1c / Sunlight – double refraction – glare from water & sunlight. / a) Wear sun hat / sun cream and keep skin covered.
b) Wear sun glasses
2 / Equipment and Transport
a) Equipment failure leading to accident or capsize.
b) Loading and unloading equipment – risk of injury from falling equipment or back injury.
c) Equipment falling from vehicle leading to accident. / a) Equipment to be checked by a competent person prior to expedition, in accordance with current guidance. Daily checks by group & spare paddles/spray decks carried.
b) Briefing on best practice when loading/unloading equipment (two people to lift, use kayak trolley if possible, bend knees, keep load near body etc.)
c) Training/briefing of how to fasten equipment appropriately, driver to check all securely fastened before moving off.
3 / Craft & loading with equipment
a) Damage to kayak and/or paddler and/or exhaustion from bad packing.
b) Failure of craft, or damage sustained on route.
c) Wet equipment leading to damp equipment. / a) Training on packing of craft, use of knows for Open Canoes - maintaining lateral and fore/aft balance, trim & even keel.
b) Craft to be safety checked prior to use and repair kit carried/paddlers trained in use.
c) Good quality heavy duty waterproof bags or drums used.
4 / River / Paddling Hazards
a) Capsize/drowning while paddling
b) Fallen trees – entrapment
c) Head injury from capsize
d) Weirs
e) Rapids
f) High river levels
g) Low river levels
h) Locks (rivers and canals)
i) Getting onto/off water – risk of falling in
j) Infection of cuts of grazes
k) Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease)
l) Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
m) Strains / injury / blisters from paddling
n) Other users of river e.g. fishermen / a) Training to relevant standard for water (as per DofE/Scout guidelines); appropriate rescue training undertaken; buoyancy aid worn at all times.
b) Keep watch for fallen trees, if in doubt get out and look. Do not paddle under low trees or hold onto trees (hug a rock, hate a tree).
c) Where conditions dictate follow guidelines for wearing helmets e.g. rapids. Training and briefing of group, dynamic risk assessment of river based on prevailing conditions.
d) Training / risk assessment of route– always portage around weirs.
e) Risk assessment and training, which may include wearing helmets, how to travel if fall in (take up sitting position, exit into eddy).
f) High river levels may require journey to be curtailed – dynamic risk assessment by group/supervisor.
g) Low river levels may present underwater obstacles and walking kayaks through shallows or portage open kayaks around hazards.
h) Do not use locks unless a lock keeper has requested you to enter the lock. Portage around locks.
i) Training of getting in/out of craft including using paddle to get as outrigger / team work.
j) Always clean hands regularly (wipes/gel carried). Cover cuts and abrasions.
k) First aid training undertaken including recognition of Weil’s disease. Avoid swallowing water. Cover cuts. Seek medical aid if flu-like symptoms.
l) Aware of signs of blue-green algae (scum/bloom on water surface, warning signs from Environment agency). Avoid swallowing water. Cover cuts. Seek medical aid if flu-like symptoms or gastroenteritis.
m) Warming up exercises. Correct paddling technique. Swapping over if one person in Open Canoe. Neoprene gloves could be worn.
n) Leave adequate room when passing other users; try and avoid disturbing wildlife; leave plenty of room when passing fishermen for lines.
5 / Stove Safety
a) Risk of burns to participants
b) Methylated Spirit Stoves – risk of explosion when lighting the stove when hot or the container catching alight (if using Meths Stoves)
c) Gas – risk of flaring or explosion.
d) Other fuels – risk of explosion/fire etc. / a) All participants to receive training in the safe use of stove and be supervised before being allowed to use remotely. Stoves must never be used in tents. Participants should also use the handle to avoid burns and know treatment.
b) Stoves should be placed on a cleared area away from tents, paths and combustible material.
c) Never put an empty pan on a lit stove.
d) Methylated Spirit must be stored in Red Trangia Bottles (or metal sigg bottles, although the former is safer). Never in plastic containers. Groups to either carry a spare burner and if the stove goes out, the cold burner should be filled and lit or take the burner out of the stove to the fuel bottle to refill. Hot burners must never be refilled.
e) Gas bottles must be self-sealing (screw fit)and never turned upside down. One person should turn stove on and the other light it to ensure there is no build-up of gas when lighting.
f) Other fuels are not recommended for D of E e.g. solid fuel, petrol, gel – if these are used an additional training & risk assessment must be carried out.
6 / Food and Water poisoning
a) Fresh food / meat going “off” and/or not being cooked/stored properly leading to food poisoning.
b) Water not being clean leading to water poisoning. / a) Menus / food to be checked prior to expedition - expedition food e.g. pre-pack/dehydrated should be used instead of fresh meat/products which can go off.
b) Water should be from a clean drinking water source. In remote areas where water is collected from streams, local advice should be sought and water treated with water treatment tablets before consumption.
6 / Inappropriate behaviour
a) Behaviour of participants leads to risk of safety to other participants while unsupervised. / a) Behaviour to be monitored during training/practice.
b) Clear ground rules to be set in group code of conduct.
c) If necessary, participant should be warned / sent home if needed.
7 / Emergency Situations
a) Participants come across an emergency situation e.g. injury, unable to continue, lost etc. / a) Participants to be trained in Emergency Procedures and First Aid.
b) Participants should know the medical conditions of other members of their team and the treatment.
c) Pre-kit check – all participants to carry as a minimum: sleeping bag, emergency procedures card, emergency rations, survival bag, medication and whistle.
d) Group should carry a first aid kit and emergency shelter / tent sufficient for the group.
e) A mobile phone should be carried by the group for emergency calls to the supervisor/assessor/emergency services.
f) A GPS should be carried (if available) in Wild Country so the group can get a grid reference to give to the emergency services in the event of emergencies.
8 / Other General Risks
a) Communication break down between group and supervisor. / a) Agree contract on meeting points and contact plans in the event of running behind schedule. Do not get ahead of routecard unless agreed with supervisor/assessor.
b) Group carries mobile phone to contact supervisor. (NB Short range radios can also be used where signal is poor)
c) Pre-expedition check – navigation, emergency procedures, emergency equipment & first aid.
d) Supervisors to check routes for hazards and brief groups accordingly, meeting them at any hazardous points.
e) GPS or phone with GPS app to be carried to identify position in the event of emergency.
f) Adequate supervision – one supervisor per group should be the normal ratio for expeditions.
b) Ticks – risk of Lyme’s disease / a) Participants to be briefed on appearance of ticks, removal with tweezers of Tick Remover and signs / Symptoms of Lymes disease.
c) Injury from Wild Animal / a) Participants to be advised to stay away from Wild animals
d) Injury from unsafe structures/mines/rock face / a) Participants to be advised to stay away from unsafe structures/pontoons/landing platforms/rock faces.
e) Smoking/stoves – fires in tents / a) Participants are not to smoke or cook in tents.
f) Alcohol/drugs etc. / a) Participants reminded in code of conduct that alcohol & drugs are not allowed, leaders to monitor.
Thank-you to Sue Rogers from Devon Scouts and Tom Cully / Peter Bourne from Romsey Scouts for allowing us to base this on their risk assessments.
Hampshire Scouting – D of E Water Venture generic risk assessment.