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Risk Assessments

Welcome to the Forest Explorers Risk Assessment Guide - This will help you to conduct a risk assessment for your visit to the forest. For more information on risk assessments, go to the HSE website ( www.hse.gov.uk )

5 Steps to Risk Assessments

1) Identify the hazards 2) Decide who might be harmed and how 3) Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution 4) Record your findings and implement them 5) Review your assessment and update if necessary

Identify the hazards

First of all is to identify any hazards. Your local forest office will normally have a generic risk assessment which will include all possible hazards during your visit. If possible it is always a good idea to make a visit to the area prior to taking a large group. This will give you a good chance to gather any information needed or take any photographs. With photos you can always get a second opinion from another member of staff etc. EXAMPLES OF HAZARDS: * Crossing Roads * Pesticide controlled areas * Poisonous Mushrooms / Fruit * Trips & Falls * Ponds & Lakes * Forest Traffic such as fast moving cyclists, horse riders etc. * Electric Fences *

Who is at risk and how?

This will all depend on the individual group of people visiting the forest.

Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution

Now you have identified the hazards, you now have to decide what to do about them. Can you eliminate the hazard altogether? If not, how can you control the risks so that harm is unlikely? Example: Forest traffic and crossing main roads with young children = All children and all staff will be wearing high visibility vests at all times. All main roads are avoided where possible and the pavement is to be used at all times. Each member of staff is responsible for the supervision and the safety of no more than 4 children at any time. All members of staff are basic first aiders and carry a small first aid kit for minor injuries.

Record your findings and implement them

Your risk assessment does not have to be perfect but it must be suitable and sufficient. You will need to show that a proper check was made; * You asked who might be affected; * You dealt with all the obvious significant hazards, taking into account the number of people who could be involved; * The precautions are reasonable, and the remaining risk is low; * You involved your staff or their representatives in the process. Putting the results of your risk assessment into practice will make a difference to look after people in your care during your visit to the forest. Make sure to write down the results of your risk assessment and share them with your staff/helpers, Your local forest office may ask for a copy of your risk assessment ( MAKE SURE TO CHECK FIRST)

Review your risk assessment and update if necessary

Look at your risk assessment and think about whether there have been any changes? Are there improvements you still need to make? Has someone spotted a problem? Have you learnt anything from accidents or near misses? Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date. Follow us on Twitter @ForestFunLearn

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