Risk Assessment for Orienteering

Mike Hamilton BOF CEO: emergency number 07966 305800

Risk assessments are concerned with identifying the hazards (ie things which might go wrong or cause an accident/injury), evaluating the likelihood of a particular event occurring (ie level of risk) and putting measures in place needed to reduce or eliminate the risk.

Name of Club / satellite club name / after school club / Bristol Orienteering Klub
Name of person completing this form / Position of person completing this form / Organiser/Coach
Venue for session / event / activity / Date for session /
event / activity
Name of person in charge of session / event / activity
Risk assessment signed / Risk assessment dated / Draft v#
Risk assessment checked by (name, position and date) / Print name
& position (coach mentor, controller etc): / Event Controller
Signed and dated:

Emergency Information

Emergency access point (for emergency vehicles) / Post code: / Place from which signed:
Grid reference:
Nearest A&E hospital: / Name and Address / Map available (where): / At Registration and First Aid
Post code:
Distance/time
Working telephone: / Landline or mobile: / Landline/mobile / Phone Number(s):
If mobile, have you checked reception? / Yes:good/poor/none
Not yet
First Aid cover / Name(s) of first aider: / Located where? / In car/tent next to Registration.

The Risk Assessment

It is essential that the mitigation column is completed in detail so that the control measures and who is responsible is fully understood in advance of the activity / session / event and that all staff / helpers are fully briefed.

NB: it is not sufficient only to put warnings in preliminary information as there is no way of being sure that all participants will have read them.

Hazard – note under these headings (see suggested examples to consider) / Possible outcome / injury including severity and likelihood of occurrence / Mitigation: / ·  What control measure?
·  Who is responsible? /
In area to be used (indoors)
Slippery Floor surface if wet
Shared use (dining room / other activities)
Cooking equipment.
Fires, radiators, boiling water / Injuries, probably minor with low risk / Post warnings as needed, with particular attention to helpers and squad leaders. Organiser
In area to be used (outdoors)
Ground rough, uneven, muddy, very steep
Slippery paths, tracks and banks
Tree roots
Overhanging branches
Brambles, nettles
Bracken and risk of ticks
Wire / ruined fences
Walls to be climbed
Litter (glass, used needles)
Military debris
Forestry operations / Tripping and falling or running into wire leading to sprains, grazes, cuts, bruising, stings and tick bites. Minor Injury - Likely
Tripping and falling leading to broken bones and penetrating wounds. Eye damage from branches Severe – Unlikely
May need to treat casualties in event area and/or extract to access point. / Warnings of various risks in Flyer and/or Final Details.
First Aid people and kit available. Kit includes standalone pack to be carried to casualty in event area. Appropriate officials will have VHF radios and/or phones to report back and to help summon emergency services if needed, otherwise plan to move to nearest access point, recover by vehicle and transport to hospital.
If ticks ‘in season’ warning at start and download to check for ticks and remove them quickly with the right tool (First Aid have them).
Best vehicle access for quick retrieval of injured persons in emergency planned in advance. Organiser
Tape dangerous overhanging branches and any dangerous or hidden wire.
Warnings to keep off forestry equipment and stacked logs/trees.
Courses planned to suit age and experience of runners and to avoid significant hazards. Easier courses will avoid brambles, nettles and wire. Planner
Steps and stairways
Blind corners
Stepping out of alleyways into roads / Tripping and falling leading to sprains, grazes, cuts. Crashing into someone else. Minor Injury – Likely
Complaints from public and risk of not getting permission in future. Possible / Advise runners to take care and to consider other people on footpaths/going round corners. “Don’t leave your brain at the start.” Organiser
Rivers, streams, ponds. / Possibly falling in water features. Severe - Unlikely / All/Easier courses will avoid water features. Planner
Dangerous crags or cliffs
Mineshafts
Caves
Military debris / Falling down. Being trapped on ledges.
Risk of death, disability or very serious injury - Very unlikely / Longer courses planned to avoid routes near large crags/mineshafts/potholes. Easier courses kept well away from these hazards. Planner
Mineshafts taped off with yellow and black tape. Strong warnings re these potentially fatal risks, in flyer, at registration and at start for courses affected. Organiser
Car park: moving cars mixing with participants or other members of public / Car-pedestrian collisions. Potentially serious injuries. Unlikely / Signs at entrance to car park to slow down.
Warnings in flyer and/or final details.
Marshals directing parking in safe manner.
Managed road-crossing if applicable
Organiser
Road or track crossing(s) affecting all/xxx courses. / Car/competitor collisions. Injuries/death - Very unlikely. / Assessment of how busy roads and forest tracks are.
Easier courses avoid road crossings.
Signs warning cars of runners crossing.
Use timed out controls on significant crossings.
Well-chosen crossing points.
Running on/alongside road not allowed.
Some roads marked as out of bounds.
Warnings at Registration. Organiser
Control descriptions correctly show road crossings. Planner
Participants
Inadequate clothing/footwear, existing medical conditions/allergies, disorientation, getting tired.
Exposure to elements, exposure to injury. / Hypo and hyperthermia. Illness. Getting lost. Potentially life threatening – Unlikely
Higher risk of slipping if inadequate footwear. Minor injury - Moderately likely / Warnings in Flyer and Final Details of clothing requirements (particularly if weather might be poor), eg O shoes not trainers and full leg cover to protect against ticks and scratches. Cagoules may be compulsory (and if so will be advised again at Registration and imposed at Start). Rescue and Search plan and First Aid available. Organiser
Short courses and suited to age groups and experience. Planner
Medical incident in forest, whether injury or pre-existing condition / Shock, hypothermia, heart attacks, allergic reactions. Very severe possibly fatal - very unlikely / Carrying of whistles for attracting attention compulsory/recommended for adults and compulsory for juniors. (If compulsory must be checked at start)
Other runners to help incapacitated runner.
Trained First Aiders with equipment to support casualty (not including defibrillator).
Access points for emergency services (from Registration area) pre-planned. Organiser
Getting lost / Distress, exhaustion, fading light/darkness. Minor but could become major if unresolved. Moderately likely/unlikely / Safety bearing advised to competitors at start.
Emergency Telephone number printed on map.
First Aid.
Search plan pre-prepared. Organiser
Other people/activities in area
Walkers, dogs, horses, bicycles, cars.
Farm animals, eg bulls and cows / Collisions, dog bites, horse kicks, bicycle accidents.
Children (and adults) scared by dogs (not necessarily bitten).
Interaction with dogs is fairly common but rarely injurious
Rider thrown from horse or bicycle, or orienteer knocked down - broken bones or head injuries.
Bull, horses and bicycle incidents could be more serious but are very rare / Warnings in Final Details.
First Aid available. TLC for children frightened by dogs.
Normal respect and civilised behaviour expected from orienteers and members of the public. Common sense should avoid most incidents. Start team to remind runners not to forget their manners.
Notices advising of event on footpaths/bridleways at entrances to event area at least 1 week before.
Car risks covered above.
Agree with farmer which fields animals will be in etc and gates locked. Organiser
Courses to avoid fields with farm animals. Out of bounds areas marked on maps. Planner
Stranger danger / Unwarranted approaches by strangers especially to children. Very severe – very unlikely / Area is largely rural and has very low population close by. Junior course is all within 750m of start/registration and much of it is visible from finish. Many orienteers in area. Whistles mandatory for juniors in flier and start team will check. Organiser
Weather
Cold, ice, wind, rain, storm / Hypothermia. Severe/life threatening - very unlikely / Most competitors are experienced outdoor pursuits enthusiasts and should be suitably clad/equipped for the conditions. Organiser needs to be alert to newcomers or novices who may be under equipped.
Be prepared for all weather conditions all year round.
In very poor weather, organiser may impose compulsory clothing requirements, eg cagoules. Reminder in flyer and final details. Checks at Start.
First Aid equipped to alleviate hypothermia. Organiser
Contingency plan to cancel event (or certain courses) if weather or forecast is very bad and/or visibility low. Organiser and Controller
Excessive heat / Hyperthermia, sun burn, heat stroke, exhaustion, dehydration. Severe/life threatening - very unlikely / First Aid team trained. Participants advised in flier to bring own water and sun cream. Emergency water available at First Aid. Organiser
Equipment
Electrical equipment, computers, etc / Electrocution if equipment faulty or misused. Very severe – very unlikely
Tripping/falling causing injury. Probably minor - unlikely / If using generator:
Electrical equipment running off generator – all protected from rain. Generator and computer equipment and wiring regularly checked by professional electrician. Users of all equipment regularly trained in safe usage.
Ensure safe routing of any cables. Danger tape used as necessary.
Generator taped off with access only allowed for those using it. Organiser
If using car battery:
Electrical equipment running off car battery. Equipment and wiring regularly checked by professional electrician.
Users of all equipment regularly trained in safe usage. No cables outside cars. Organiser

Draft version #2 dated 24 February 2015

All feedback to BOK Permissions, the owner of the Officials’ Manual or any Squad Leader

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