Need help with your risk assessment? Visit or contact your designated staff member

(For Societies/Committees: )

Society/Committee: Various (see trip form) Date of Risk Assessment: 01/08/2017 – 31/07/2018

Event/Activity: UK Camping TripCompleted by (Name/Position): Students’ Union staff on behalf of Sheffield SU’s registered societies and committees.

Event/Activity Location: Various (see trip form) Contact details(telephone & email): 0114 222 28689

Date of Event/Activity: Various (see trip form)Other Persons Consulted (if any):,Jill Thompson (SU H&S Manager, Janet Turvey (Endsleigh Insurance), Tim Bowell (SGS)

Please note that this is a standardised risk assessment. If there are any specific risks associated with your day trip which are not covered in this risk assessment then you must inform the relevant staff member in the Activities & Sports Zone.

SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS
What might cause harm? / RISK
Who might be harmed and how? / CONTROL MEASURES: EXISTING AND PROPOSED
What are you already doing to control the risk?
What else do you need to do? / Action by who?
Person(s) / Action by when?
Date
Fire / All participants – risk of burns, smoke inhalation, injuries during evacuation. /
  • The trip leader should talk through the campsite’s fire safety policies and procedures and show all participants the location of the Fire Assembly Point.
/ Trip leader and all participants. / During trip.
Fire from stoves, open fires for cooking,etc. / All participants – risk of burns, smoke inhalation. /
  • No cooking in tents.
  • No smoking in tents.
  • Careful storage of flammables.
  • All gas stoves to be set up and used correctly (check for leaks prior to lighting).
  • Lit stoves not to be left unattended.
  • Gas bottles to be switched off at valve when not in use.
  • Gas bottles to be stored outside in open air away from tent entrance.
  • Camp-fires only to be lit if permitted by the camp-site owner/manager.
  • Use either supplied alter fires or proper fire pits dug into the ground.
  • Keep open fires at least 20 feet from any tent.
Open fires to be distinguished at the end of each session.
  • Fire blanket should be borrowed from the Zone Desk by the Trip leader.
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Scalds and burns from cooking / All participants – risk of burns /
  • Trip Leader supervises cooking.
  • Participants only to use stoves after instruction.
  • Ensure cold water is available.
  • Ensure First Aid kit is available.
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Food poisoning / All participants – sickness, etc. /
  • Ensure adequate clean drinking water supply.
  • Ensure food is cooked thoroughly.
  • Ensure food is stored safely even in hot weather.
  • Ensure clean equipment, facilities & hand-washing.
  • Ensure food is within date.
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Poor hygiene / All participants – sickness, upset stomach, etc. /
  • Ensure camp-site has suitable toilet and washing facilities available.
  • Ensure water is available for hand-washing prior to preparation and eating of food.
/ Trip leader. / Before trip
Injury due to carrying heavy equipment loads – tents, water containers, etc. / All participants – back problems, muscular strains. /
  • Weight of loads carried to be controlled by campers – pack sensibly, consider weights before lifting.
  • Use trolleys/wheelbarrows for large loads.
  • Water containers to be of suitable size if being carried by hand.
  • Sharing load with others e.g. two people to a tent.
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Cold/wet weather / All participants – hypothermia. /
  • Trip leader to brief all participants on the need to bring appropriate clothing – waterproof clothes, change of clothes.
  • Ensure tents have ground insulation.
  • Ensure sleeping bags & tents are in good condition.
  • Societies intending to camp between October and April will ensure that sleeping bags and tents are appropriate for the conditions. Sleeping bag guidance: Tent guidance:
/ Trip leader, all participants. / Before trip
Warm/sunny weather / All participants – sunburn, sunstroke. /
  • Ensure all participants are advised to keep hydrated
  • Ensure all participants are advised to wear sun-protection (min SPF 15)
  • Plan activities outside of the hottest time of the day (11am-3pm)
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Drinking alcohol / All participants - illness and dehydration from excessive alcohol consumption /
  • The trip leader and at least two committee members should not drink alcohol during the trip, in case of emergency. If any participant is seriously unwell, the trip leader should be notified and the emergency services (999) should be called.
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Injuries due to tripping/falling / All participants – injuries, sprains, cuts/bruises, etc /
  • Advise all participants to use recognised paths.
  • Extra care should be taken when moving around site after dusk.
  • Advise participants to use torches/head torches at night.
  • Guy lines should be kept short and away from main access routes.
  • Tent pegs should be driven right into the ground.
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Disposal of personal rubbish/waste /
  • Ensure sharp items eg. tins are suitably disposed of.
  • Use rubbish bins provided on site.
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.
Travelling to and from destination / Somebody being left behind;
Risk of accident /
  • The trip leader should carry a named list with every participant’s name and mobile number on. They should ensure every name is ticked off before departure.
  • Everyone travelling should wear a seatbelt. There should be no alcohol consumption on coaches or minibuses, in line with the Rules & Safety Handbook.
  • In case of emergency, the trip leader should carry the University Security Services number (0114 222 4085).
/ Trip leader, all participants. / During trip.