Prompt list for Risk Assessments

Adverse weather conditions

1. Is the event/activity weather dependent?

2. If so, what are the procedures in place for postponing the event/activity and notifying participants/attendees?

3. Are there any structures/exhibitions/performances at the event/activity, which could be damaged/affected by poor weather?

4. Could any structures/exhibitions fall in wind and cause damage to people/other objects?

5. Would any activity at the event be considered dangerous if wind or rain was high?

6. If the weather is very hot and sunny, is there sufficient shade for people attending the event/activity and are the emergency services on call to handle sun/heat stroke?

Behavioural difficulties

1. Do any of the known attendees/participants have a history of behavioural difficulties and if so, are staff (paid and voluntary) trained to deal with this?

2. Do staff (paid and voluntary) and young people have adequate training and knowledge to deal with a difficult or angry attendee/participant?

3. Do staff (paid and voluntary) and young people know who to contact in the case of an attack or aggressive behaviour from an attendee/participant?

Chemicals

1. Will chemicals be used in any form during the event/activity?

2. What for and why?

3. Are they strictly necessary?

4. If so who will be handling them, do they have adequate training?

5. Where will they be kept and how will they be kept away from the general public?

6. Does the person handling them have adequate training to do so?

Control of media

1. Is this an activity the Media will be interested in covering?

2. Who will meet the Media?

3. Is there adequate space for the Media?

4. Have you got a press release ready for the Media?

5. How can you ensure that the activity will give your project a positive image?

Deep water

1. Is the activity in close proximity to deep water e.g. swimming pool, river, lake etc.

2. Is the water safely cordoned off so that there is no public access?

3. Are all staff (paid and voluntary) and participants/attendees aware of the danger of deep water?

Food

1. Is there drinking water on site? Are you providing drinking water or are Service Users responsible for bringing their own?

2. Are you providing food at the activity?

3. Is there suitable storage available?

Medication

1. Is anyone involved in this activity likely to need regular medication?

2. Does this pose a hazard to others?

3. Does a storage area need to be provided; does this need to be secure?

Disorder

1. Is it the type of activity where disorder may occur?

2. Is there an appropriate ratio of staff (paid and voluntary) security to participants/attendees to prevent any disorder occurring?

3. Is there an emergency plan in place in the event of disorder occurring?

Electrical equipment

1. Will electrical equipment be used in any form during the activity?

2. What for and why?

3. Is it strictly necessary?

4. Who are the contractors providing the equipment and have they provided evidence that it is safe?

5. Is the equipment compatible with the power source provided by the venue?

6. Is the equipment suitable for outdoor use?

7. What measures will be in place to ensure the equipment cannot be tampered with by anyone unauthorised to handle it?

8. Does the person handling the equipment have adequate training to do so?

9. If staff/volunteers/participants/attendees are required to deal with the equipment, are they trained to do so?

Temporary structures

1. Will the activity make use of a temporary structure e.g. marquee, tent etc?

2. If so, who is providing this temporary structure?

3. Where will they be erecting the temporary structure and have you got a copy of their health and safety information to ensure their staff are trained to do this safely? Is the ground where the temporary structure is to be placed suitable e.g. not flood marshland, hilly, unstable in any way?

4. Are there any overhead cables which may pose a safety risk to a temporary structure?

5. Does the temporary structure pose any slip/trip hazards e.g. trailing wires, carpet not laid straight etc?

6. Are you aware of what can/cannot be put in the temporary structure safely e.g. if it is a dinner are candles permitted? Can cooking take place in it safely?

7. Is the temporary structure weather resistant? What would temperatures be like if it was really hot/cold?

8. Will heaters be used inside the temporary structure? How will they be electrically linked up to a power source?

9. Have you considered all sources of naked flames (smoking, cooking, heating, etc)?

10. If the structure is enclosed will there be suitable fire exit provision?

Falling objects

1. During the event/activity, is there any risk of objects falling on anyone?

2. Are there objects that could be displaced by unfavourable weather conditions and cause a safety hazard?

3. Are all objects that are positioned highly, secure?

4. If an object does fall, is there adequate first aid nearby to deal with the outcome?

Falls from height

1. Is there any place at the venue where participant/attendees may be at risk of falling from a height?

2. Are there any pot holes, drainage holes, ledges, cliffs from which people may fall?

3. Can the hazard be planned out of the activity?

4. If not, is the hazard clearly identified and suitable warning signs erected?

5. Can the hazard be cordoned off?

Manual handling

1. Try to reduce the amount of lifting or carrying as much as possible.

2. Where it is strictly necessary ensure heavy or awkward loads are going to be being moved by trained staff from the companies providing them.

3. Ensure that the people tasked with lifting the loads are suitable e.g. make sure they are NOT pregnant women, anyone with back problem history etc

Medical first aid

1. Is there suitable first aid planned for the activity?

2. Are there trained first aiders who will be on site?

3. Do you have the correct ratio of first aiders to numbers attending activity?

4. Is there an Ambulance present?

5. Are all first aiders aware of where First Aid provision is kept?

6. Are all First Aid kits fully stocked and adequate for the activity?

7. Who is responsible at the event/activity for logging accidents/incidents?

8. Is there an agreed communication link between the First Aid Providers and staff in the event of an accident?

9. Where the nearest hospital and what is is its number?

10. What is the exact location to give the emergency services in the case of a call out?

11. Who is the local doctor on call and what is his/her number?

Noise

1. How noisy will the activity be?

2. Has communication over the noise been considered – (Headsets with walkie-talkies for example)

3. Have neighbouring people been advised?

Slips/trips/falls

3. Plan the event/activity so that, where possible, the ground is even with no trip hazards

4. If it involves staircases/steps or other trip hazards endure they are adequately marked

5. If the event/activity is near water or people could have wet feet in the event/activity of adverse weather conditions is the surface non-slip when wet?

6. Ensure someone is on site to check the area for trip hazards before the activity.

Space

1. If the activity is taking place at a location, do you know how many people can safely occupy the space?

2. Have you made a provision to control the number of people who have access?

Fire safety

1. Are you following the location’s standard procedures, if so have all key people been briefed?

2. Are the evacuation/fire procedures in place and clear and easy to follow?

3. Are exits clearly marked? (even if standard lighting fails)?

4. Is there suitable fire detection on site (smoke detectors etc) for the activities you are planning – if the location is managed ask them for this information.

5. Is there suitable provision of fire fighting equipment (fire extinguishers etc) for the activities you are planning – if the location is managed ask them for this information.

Site issues

1. Is there a ‘LOST’ post where people who are separated can go?

2. Is there a good loud speaker system in place to notify people of lost/missing friends/family?

3. Where can people sit down?

4. Is there an information point?

5. Are there adequate toilet facilities?

6. Is it clear where the first aid post is?

Theft

1. If money is to be collected, how will this be undertaken safely e.g. in pairs?

2. How will the money be handled and counted?

3. Where will the money be stored safely?

4. What insurance have you got to cover this event/activity?

Travel

1. Are all staff and participants/attendees aware of where they need to arrive for travelling both to and from the venue in question, and at what time?

2. Is there a plan of action if somebody does not turn up in time for travel?

3. Would there be enough staff to take the remaining group ahead?

Vehicles

1. If staff are using their own vehicles for work they need to ensure their insurance covers this.

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