Risk Assessment

It is advisable to carry out a risk assessment to ensure that you have proper plans for public safety. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) define a risk assessment as nothing more than a careful examination of what, in your event, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.

A hazard means anything that can cause harm (open flames, food contamination, inadequate safety barriers, etc). A risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody will be harmed by the hazard. Complete a risk assessment early on in your event planning.

Keep it simple, your assessment and the safeguards that you put into place should go as far as is reasonably practicable. If in doubt ask WaterAid's Events Team.

Five steps to risk assessment

1. Identify the hazards
(a) Physical hazards - such as vehicles, guy ropes, slippery surfaces, electrical and fire
(b) Hazardous substances - such as fumes, gasses.
(c) Environmental - such as noise, poor lighting, weather, unsupervised water areas
(d) Psychological - such as long hours, inadequate breaks, stress
(e) Ergonomic such as poor seating/standing routines, lifting

2. Decide which people are at risk and how they could be harmed
(a) Colleagues, volunteer, helpers
(b) Contractors, vendors
(c) Young and inexperienced people
(d) New and expectant mothers
(e) Staff or visitors with disabilities
(f) Lone workers or helpers

3. Controlling the risks
Do existing precautions:
(a) meet legal requirements?
(b) comply with known event standards?
(c) represent good practice?
(d) reduce risks as far as is reasonably practicable?

If not, then you need to consider an action plan to categorise remaining risks as high, medium or low.

The aim is to eliminate hazards altogether or to limit those risks in order of preference by:

(i) Combating the risks at source – treatment is better than warning signs
(ii) Preventing access to the hazard – barriers, marshals, and alternative route markings
(ii) Reorganising work to ensure adequate comfort breaks, reduce stress
(iv) Provide personal protective clothing where necessary – life jackets, high visibility vests
(v)  Provide adequate welfare facilities such as washing, toilets, and crèche

4. Recording the findings
Write down your findings, or alternatively use tape/disc recording, or photography. 

Download a risk assessment template form ( Word 50Kb)

5. Reviewing and revising
Management Regulations require risk assessments to be 'suitable and sufficient'. Yours can be as short and concise or as long and detailed as you require. All plans change and when they do, you should just spare a few minutes to review your assessment for any changes.

You may find it useful to review the worked examples offered by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority and utilise their risk recognition details. For more details and further guidance please visit www.aala.org and www.hse.gov.uk (links open in a new window).