School Outdoor Learning provide resources, training and solutions to enable schools to fully engage with and utilise their outdoor environments.
Outdoor
Learning Risk Assessment
This outlines some
of the more common risks associated with the outdoors – it’s not comprehensive
so feel free to add your own hazards and actions. Please note that you should
assess your own school site and in accordance with your own school’s risk
assessment procedures and apply risk levels. Also that risk assessment should be managed by everyone in the group taking part, including children. Create an atmosphere of open dialogue with children about where hazards exist and how to mitigate/manage them.
Hazard
|
Actions
|
Sharp
or prickly materials
|
Encourage long
sleeves and sturdy footwear (not open shoes or flip flops) and discourage
wearing shorts. Carry a first aid kit.
|
Poisonous
berries/fungi
|
Give verbal
warnings not to eat anything put things/fingers in their mouths. Seek medical
assistance if ingested. Wash hands carefully after the trip/activity
(especially before eating or drinking). Carry wet wipes or antibacterial gel.
|
Low
branches
|
Give verbal
warnings to take care (especially of eyes) and encourage children to give
warnings to others.
|
Uneven
ground, holes, slopes, tree roots and fallen branches
|
Advise to walk
carefully and avoid running in dense areas. Wear suitable footwear and plan a
route appropriate to the weather and the age
of the children.
|
Children
going out of sight/missing
|
Advise children
on boundaries and give verbal warnings. Adults to keep visual contact with
their group. Correct ratios of adults: students should be maintained. Have an
agreed ‘missing person’ procedure that everyone is aware of, including an
agreed meeting point in emergency situations.
|
Members
of the public
|
Avoid contact
with strangers and animals where possible. Ask owners to control their pets
if passing.
|
Insect
bites/stings or allergies
|
Be aware of
children with allergies (such as to nuts, insect stings, or pollen i.e. hay fever). Check
anyone with severe allergies has their asthma pump or Epipen, and they are
able to administer it. Remind everyone of the risk. Carry a first aid kit.
Tuck socks into trousers if in a potential tick area.
|
Dangerous
litter (i.e. fly-tipped waste, broken glass, syringes)
|
Conduct a safety
sweep of the area before the activity takes place. remind people of the
dangers and, if appropriate, show an example.
|
Disease
or infection – i.e. toxicara canis (dog faeces), tetanus (soil), leptospirosis
(rat urine), lyme disease (ticks)
|
Cover broken
skin on hands (i.e. wear gloves), advise of the risks and symptoms and seek
medical advice ASAP if infection suspected. Tuck socks into trousers if in a
potential tick area.
|
Sun/ultra
violet radiation
|
Advise of the
risks. Cover exposed skin, especially top of the head, back of the neck and
shoulders. Encourage wearing the right clothing to cover up exposed skin.
Work in the shade wear possible. Take water for rehydration.
|
Slippery
surfaces
|
Warn about mud
or ice. Change activity or route according to the weather and seasonal
conditions.
|
Severe
weather – electrical storms or gale force winds
|
Check weather
websites for the latest information and severe weather warnings. Avoid wooded
areas in very high winds. Cancel activity if too severe.
|
Open
water
|
Verbal warnings
of danger area. Advise to keep clear of water’s edge/banks. Have a throw line
if working near deep or fast flowing water.
|
Daily Hazard
Check List
(To be completed
before the start of or during every outdoor learning session/activity)
Activity/lesson__________________________________________ Date____________________
Site/Area______________________________________________ Time____________________
Hazard no.
|
Hazards
|
Hazard
identified
|
1.
|
Moving traffic
|
Yes/no
|
2.
|
Hazardous materials
|
Yes/no
|
3.
|
Poisonous plants/berries/fungi
|
Yes/no
|
4.
|
Deep or moving water
|
Yes/no
|
5.
|
Animal faeces
|
Yes/no
|
6.
|
Overhanging branches/dead trees
|
Yes/no
|
7.
|
Uneven ground/hidden holes
|
Yes/no
|
8.
|
Fences and barbed wire
|
Yes/no
|
9.
|
Sharp objects
|
Yes/no
|
10.
|
Very hot weather conditions
|
Yes/no
|
11.
|
Extreme cold weather conditions
|
Yes/no
|
12.
|
High winds
|
Yes/no
|
13.
|
Other
|
Yes/no
|
14.
|
Other
|
Yes/no
|
Controlled Actions Implemented
Control actions (ERICPD)
|
Enter hazard number and details (next to Control
Action)
|
Eliminate –
remove hazard
|
|
Reduce – change or alter activity environment
|
|
Isolate – restrict access to (or around) the hazard
|
|
Control – change to a less hazardous activity
|
|
PPE – provide personal protective equipment (i.e. gloves)
|
|
Discipline
– training or advice e.g. point
out hazard, safety briefing
|
|
Other -
|
Completed by______________________________ Signed______________________________
School Outdoor Learning provide resources, training and solutions to enable schools to fully engage with and utilise their outdoor environments.
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