B. 8) Legal Matters Useful guidelines adopted from the Princes Trust and the Small Woods Association

The woodland owner and the activity organisers are jointly responsible for the acts and omissions of their colleagues, Service Users and the public with regard to their own and others health and safety.

i) Health and Safety

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and associated legislation, place a responsibility on the activity organiser to assess potential risks to participants, employees, volunteers, invited guests, the general public and team members at any activity you are organising.

• Every activity must be checked for hazards and risks. Where an activity is organised by a Service Provider (or other organisation), they must provide evidence that they have taken appropriate measures to safeguard all staff, volunteers and participants/attendees and taken out adequate insurance.

• All participants, volunteers and staff involved in the organisation of any activity must be properly briefed on the health and safety risks and what steps they can take to identify and minimise them

ii) Insurance

• If you are organising an activity you must ensure that you have adequate insurance cover in place to cover the activity.

• If you are organising an activity in collaboration with another Service Provider or organisation you must confirm in writing and ensure that there is adequate insurance cover for the activity and with which organisation.

iii) Health and Safety Procedural Forms

By completing the attached procedural forms in four sections you will be able to check through the Health and Safety of the woodland activity.

• Venue and Activity Details
  Outline the details of the activity being considered.

• Prompt List
  Complete the prompt list to identify the areas of health and safety risks of the activity.

• Risk assessment
  If your organisation is taking responsibilities for elements of it, a risk assessment will need to be completed.

• See Also HSE - Risk management: Five steps to risk assessment

• Service providers/third parties
  If service providers or third parties are involved in the activity they must be checked for suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults by providing Criminal Record Bureau checks and made aware of health and safety checks that need to be carried out.

iv) Things to Remember

• Risk assessment will list both potential risks to health and actions to take in order to reduce or eliminate the risks. You will need to assign an individual to each action and check that they have all been completed.

• Keep copies of all Health and Safety documentation, correspondence and letters on file with information on the activity. Keep a copy of your risk assessment with you during the activity.

• Ensure you plan to visit the activity beforehand, to check that all the Health and Safety recommendations are in place.

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Coed Lleol is hosted by the Small Woods Association in partnership with the Forestry Commission Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales