Risk Assessment Form School Activity Risk Assessment conducted by: Consultation occurred with: (names & role) Description of activity being assesses Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre Bush Walking Michelle van Aarde Students are transported to an area in Litchfield National Park where they can experience bushwalking at various levels of difficulty. They learn to walk in the bush and be observant of their natural surroundings fauna and flora. Students learn to follow trail markers and or walk on a bearing using a compass and map. Overnight camps are exposed to camp fire cooking and activities using torches. Weather is generally hot, dry or humid during the rainy season. People at risk: Which group of people are reasonably foreseeable to be exposed to hazards from this activity? Instructors X Teachers X Students X Visitors Relevant Guidelines: Is there any relevant legislation, codes of practice or standards for this activity? All instructors work from one consistent lesson guide with slight variations to personalise lessons. All instructors have Senior First Aid.
Nature of hazard and associated risks What is the likelihood of this happening? (Use the gridlines What is the consequence if this happens? (Use the gridlines Determine the risk score for each hazard. (Use the Risk Matrix Manage the risk what control measures are in place to minimise the risk? (Use the Hierarchy of controls Travel to destination - Motor vehicle accidents Rare Catastrophic High Make sure motor vehicles are road-worthy and that all drivers are appropriately licensed to operate a motor vehicle; All drivers are to obey NT road regulations; Ensure driver fatigue is minimal and all passengers are wearing seat belts; Ensure field equipment within vehicle is secured and unlikely to injure passengers in While bush walking participants may get cuts and abrasions to feet from plants, branches, stones and the like. While bush walking participants may fall and sprain, strain and break feet, ankles, knees, legs and arms from uneven ground, rocks and trees. Bites and stings from snakes, spiders and insects the event of an accident. Possible Minor Medium Appropriate footwear (i.e., fully covered shoes with strong soles) must be worn at all times; First Aid kit and First Aider available Possible Moderate Medium Make participants aware of terrain conditions and importance of being vigilant; No running; Appropriate footwear to be worn at all times (i.e., sturdy boots or sneakers); Sandals and thongs are inadequate and are not to be worn; Torches to be used in the dark if overnighting; First Aid Kit and First Aider available. Unlikely Major Medium Appropriate footwear to be worn at all times; All participants must be made award of possible dangerous animals (especially snakes); Participants are to work in pairs and stay in What control measures need to be put in place to eliminate high and very high risk items?
Exposure to hot, dry, humid or wet weather conditions and dehydration Whilst walking a participant/s go missing or lost sight of each other at all times; Check shoes, clothes and other equipment for small animals (especially scorpions)before picking them up and putting them on; Participants are not to handle snakes or spiders; A First Aid Kit and First Aider will be available. Likely Minor Medium All participants are to be made aware of climatic conditions and are to bring appropriate clothing and camping equipment; i.e. long sleeves to protect arms, hats, sunglasses and protective clothing for day, wet weather gear etc. Participants must bring sunscreen and apply at regular intervals; Ensure all participants have an adequate supply of water and carry water bottles with them whilst bush walking. Rare Moderate Medium All participants must be made aware of the dangers and consequences of being lost in the bush; The rules for wondering off alone or in pairs must be made clear to all participants; Ensure participants know exactly what to do if they get lost or detached from the group; Maintain a list of all participants and conduct regular headcounts at re-group points; Participants must remain in pairs and in sight of each other at all times; If overnighting no participant is ever to leave camp on their own or without informing an adult staff member.
Consequence 1 - Insignificant 2 - Minor 3 - Moderate 4 - Major 5 - Catastrophic Likelihood A - Certain B - Likely C - Possible D - Unlikely E - Rare Risk Matrix Dealt with by in house first aid Medical help needed. Treatment by medical professional/hospital outpatient Significant nonpermanent injury. Overnight hospitalisation (inpatient) Extensive permanent injury (e.g. loss of fingers) Extended hospitalisation. Death Permanent disability injury (e.g. blindness, loss of hand/s quadriplegia) Almost certain to occur in most Medium High High Very High Very High circumstances Likely to occur frequently Medium Medium High High Very High Possible and likely to occur at some time Unlikely to occur and could happen May occur but only in rare and exceptional circumstances Low Medium Medium High High Low Low Medium Medium High Low Low Medium Medium High Once the level of risk has been established, determine when and how to intervene with control measures. Risk Level Consideration Recommended Outcome Very High Act immediately to mitigate the risk. Either eliminate, substitute or implement engineering control measures Remove the hazard at the source. An identified very high risk does not allow scope for the use of administrative controls, even in the short term. High Act immediately to mitigate the risk. Either eliminate, substitute or implement engineering control measures. An achievable timeframe must be established to ensure that elimination, substitution or engineering controls are implemented. Medium Low If these controls are not immediately accessible, set a timeframe for their implementation and establish interim risk reduction strategies for the period of the set timeframe. Take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk. Until elimination, substitution or engineering controls can be implemented, institute administrative or personal protective equipment controls. These 'lower level' controls must not be considered permanent solution. Take reasonable steps to mitigate and monitor the risk. Institute permanent controls in the long term. Permanent controls may be administrative in nature if the hazard has low frequency, rare likelihood and insignificant consequence. NOTE: Risk (and not cost) must be the primary consideration in determining the timeframe. Interim measures until permanent solutions can be implemented: Develop administrative controls to limit the use or access Provide supervision and specific training related to the issue of concern. (See Administrative Controls Consider implementing hazard controls by modification of existing procedures, using available resources.
Hierarchy of Control Interventions identified may be a mixture of the hierarchy in order to provide as low as reasonably practicable exposure. Elimination Eliminate the hazard. Most effective control Isolate Isolate the hazard from the person or vice versa, stopping exposure to the hazard. Engineering Controls Provide or construct a physical barrier or guard between the hazard and the person who would be ordinarily be exposed. Administrative Controls Develop policies, procedures practices and guidelines, in consultation with employees, to mitigate the risk. Provide training, instruction and supervision about the hazard. Personal Protective Equipment Personal Protective equipment designed to protect the individual from the hazard. Least effective control