Risk Assessment Number:
General Information-(Note: Enter N/a in ‘FurtherAction Required’ Field if control measures are not applicable. Leave blank if no further action needed.Change risk rating as required)
Supporting documentse.g. Safe Work Procedure for Handling Animals.
Descripton of Task/Activity:
Where is the activity/task undertaken – (include all additional locations in notes on page 9)
Location of field sites: / (please attach site registration[s]) / Date of Assessment:
State/Country: / (please attach site registration[s]) / Faculty:
Coordinates: / Department/unit:
Date of departure: / Date of return:
Name of Snorkel Coordinator / No. of students/participants
No. of qualified First Aiders / No. of staff
Address / Telephone / Contact Name (if known)
Call-back Contact
Secondary Contact:
Nearest Police station: / 000 or 112 (mobile) –
if non-emergency 131 444
Nearest hospital: / (please attach site registration[s]) / N/A
Land Manager:
Poison Information / 13 1126 / N/A
Campus Security / Macquarie University Balaclava Road, North Ryde, NSW 2109 / (02) 9850 7112 / Duty officer (24 hour)
Other (state) / e.g. Royal Flying Doctor
Useful Links: /
No: / Hazard and consequences / Risk Rating / Control Measures / Residual Risk / Further Action Required / Responsibility / Date to be completed
1. / Insufficient planning – injury/loss due to inadequate planning / H / Snorkel coordinator will complete a site registration form which will research and assess locations, including weather conditions, as far as reasonably practicable prior to journey and on arrival at each location and obtain permits/approvals as required. / L / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork
Snorkel Coordinator to ensure participants complete snorkel induction form to identify any medical concerns prior to departure. / Snorkel coordinator / Ideally several weeks Prior to Fieldwork
Snorkel Coordinator to ensure participants complete participant form. / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork
Snorkel coordinator will identify equipment required for fieldwork including all safety equipment (Oxygen, First aid, AED as required) / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork
Snorkel coordinator will brief participants on fieldwork to be undertaken, site emergency procedures and hazards, and contents of this risk assessment. Risk Assessment available to all participants.
See Snorkel logs for onsite checklist. / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork and on site
Snorkel Coordinator to ensure participants complete a swim assessment. / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork and on site
2. / Weather – dehydration, sunburn, heatstroke / M / Sufficient water and nutrition will be taken by participants. / L / Participants / In the Field
Sunscreen and appropriate UV protection will be taken by participants. / Participants / In the Field
3. / Inclement weather – hypothermia/exposure / M / Enough food, water and sunscreen will be available at all times during fieldwork. / L / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork
Participants will wear appropriate exposure protection (wetsuit) and change of clothes to stay warm between snorkel sessions as necessary. / Participants / In the Field
4. / Communication failure – first aid and casualty evacuation/location being delayed / M / Fieldwork party will have primary and secondary means of communication as assessed in the planning stage including where necessary EPIRB, Mobile with pre checked reception &/or Sat Phone and UHF radio. Any faults occurring with equipment must be reported immediately & alternative arrangements made. / L / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork
Verify mobile phone coverage at site. Ensure that the team has two means of communication. / Prior to fieldwork and on site.
4.1 / Participants becoming detached from main group and getting lost / M / Call back,field locations and emergency procedures will be discussed prior to activity. Fieldwork manager will be informed of call back procedure prior to leaving on trip. Daily email (or by prior arrangement) of snorkel logs to UDO. / L / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork and In the Field
Undergraduate groups / One Snorkel Guide (SG) to 8 students. Students sign in and SG or Surface Support (SS) records time in and out.
SGand SS establish a recall signal prior to students entering the water. / Snorkel Guide / Surface Support / Prior to and during the snorkel
Participants to work in agreed areas and remain in designated groups. / All participants / Prior to and during the snorkel
No snorkeling can be conducted alone. Minimum size of a snorkel team is 3. Buddy Pair + surface support. / All participants / Prior to Fieldwork and In the Field
MQU vehicles/vessels will be fitted with navigation trackers / Fieldwork Manger / Ongoing
5. / Equipment – injury/loss due to insufficient equipment, untrained user, inadequate selection / M / The planning stage will identify all equipment required for the activity and equipment will be checked off prior to leaving. / L / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to Fieldwork
Prior to the activity all safety equipment will be sourced and checked. This will include connecting all oxygen resuscitation equipment and testing it by breathing from the demand regulator. See onsite checklist for equipment required. / Snorkel coordinator
and UDO / Prior to Fieldwork
First Aid kits will include items necessary and as identified in the planning stage. / Snorkel coordinator and UDO / In the field
Where individuals have identified allergies etc. they will bring their own ‘Epi-pen’ and medication if applicable. / All participants / Prior to fieldtrip
6. / Lack of first aid Training/Staff– Delayed assistance, inadequate treatment / L / Sufficient number of personnel will be trained in first aid and oxygen resuscitation to the level required for the fieldwork. First Aiders will be accessible to all participants. / VL / Fieldwork Manager to check / Prior to
Fieldwork and In the Field
7. / Hazardous wildlife – bites, stings , injection, absorption/ ingestion with poisons / M / Planning stage will consider likely wildlife and poisonous fauna and flora within area of work. / L / Snorkel coordinator and UDO / Prior to Fieldwork
Long exposure suits will be worn when poisonous jellyfish are observed in the area. / Snorkel coordinator and participants / Prior to Fieldwork and In the Field
Shark shields are available for use based on Risk Assessment, and at the discretion of the participants. / Snorkel coordinator, UDO & participants / Prior to Fieldwork and In the Field
Gloves and appropriate PPE will be worn when collecting research material as identified in collection procedures (see PPE above). / Participants / Prior to Fieldwork and In the Field
8. / Adverse sea conditions – wind, swell, waves, / H / Plan trip to reduce exposure to strong wind and swell. Check BOM coastal weather and sea condition forecast prior to departure. / L / Snorkel coordinator and UDO/FW Manager / Prior to Fieldwork
Check conditions when arriving on site, conduct On-site Risk Assessment. Take note of entry and exit points. / Snorkel coordinator / In the field
Keep checking conditions regularly and be prepared to change site or discontinue activates if conditions become unsafe. / Snorkel coordinator / In the field
9 / Drowning or shallow water blackout – all injuries resulting from free diving / H / All participants to pass a snorkel induction and swim assessment before being allowed in the water. Which includes a 200m swim (or more), 3 minute treading water and a free dive to 3m without issues with mask clearing on surface, / M / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to fieldwork
All snorkeling to be conducting in buddy pair, strictly following the “one up, one down” rule (never both snorkelers diving at the same time).
The each buddy must maintain visual contact with their buddy at all times. / Snorkel coordinator & participants / In the field
Use in-water standby or surface support as required. / Snorkel coordinator / In the field
Never exceed 10m depth of diving for general observation tasks, and 6m for handling animals or collecting specimens. / Snorkel coordinator & participants / In the field
The diving buddy must not begin a dive until the other buddy has sufficiently recovered from their previous dive to ensure they are capable of conducting a rescue if needed. / Participants / In the field
Visibility at the site must be greater than the depth to which snorkelers will be diving to ensure their buddy can monitor their progress from the surface. / Snorkel coordinator / In the field
Strictly no hyperventilation shall be conducted by any snorkeler at any time. / Snorkel coordinator & participants / In the field
All participants to be briefed on the mechanisms of shallow water blackout. / Snorkel coordinator / Prior to fieldwork & in the field
All weight belts used must have a quick release system. / Snorkel coordinator & participants / In the field
All snorkelers must wear a dive knife if deemed appropriate by the Snorkel coordinator / Snorkel coordinator / In the field
All snorkelers must be positively buoyant at a depth of 10 metres. / Snorkel coordinator & participants / In the field
10. / Handling animals – bites, biohazard risk, acquired infection/illness / M / Animals and wildlife are handled as per safe system of working and in line with university animal ethics policy and guidelines and training. / VL / Snorkel coordinator & participants / In the Field
11. / Volunteers – Inexperienced volunteers resulting in accident and injury to self or others / M / Snorkel coordinator will discuss with UDO / Fieldwork Manager the use of volunteers.
No snorkeller allowed in the water without having passed a Snorkel induction. This induction is valid for 12 months only.
Any significant change in fitness levels or illnesses should be reported to the snorkel coordinator. / L / Snorkel coordinator and UDO / Fieldwork Manager
Participants / Prior to Fieldwork and in the field
In the field
12. / Boating / If the snorkel activity requires a boat refer to the MQU Boating Risk Assessment. / Snorkel Coordinator and Marine Fieldwork manger.
Personal Protective Equipment Required
Wetsuit / Gloves / Fins and booties / Mask and snorkel / Sunscreen / Sun Hat / Buoyant rescue device / Other –
Life Jacket / Polarised sun glasses / Other –
Equipment and Transport Required(It is the responsibility of the Snorkel coordinator to ensure items are checked and loaded before departure)
Safety Equipment Required
First Aid Kit Torches Matches/lighters Flares Spare warm clothing/specialist survival clothing Emergency equipment/shelter Maps EPIRBs/PLBs
Sat Phone GSM phone GPS Compass Other (specify)
Transport Required: University Private Hired Public Transport Boat (refer to Marine Fieldwork risk assessment)
Vehicle registration / Vessel name / Colour / Make and Model / Public Transport
( e.g. Busways route 66) / Flight Number
and Carrier / Hire company and branch
ANY PRIVATE VEHICLES MUST BE REGISTERED WITH VERONICA PERALTA FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES
Accommodation (overnight and extended trips)
Date / Location / Address / Email/Website (if known) / Comments
Notes: (Include any hazards and control measures or equipment required not listed above)
Email completed Word document and any supporting documentation to: -
By signing below theSnorkel coordinator agrees to follow the relevant control measures and actions identified above and is satisfied the controls will eliminate or reduce so far as reasonably practicable theforeseeable risks to health and safety. The Supervisor andHOD authorises the fieldwork to take place and approves absence on duty. The Fieldwork Manager is satisfied that the control measures identified above will eliminate or reduce the risks to health and safety so far as reasonably practicable and will not approve the application where the remaining risk is unacceptable.
Participant forms attached Y N (if not attached, please state reason)*Authorisation and Agreement
Snorkel coordinator: / Name / Signature
Academic Supervisor (if different from above) / Name / Signature
UDO or Marine Fieldwork Manager: / Name / Signature
Head of Department: / Name / Signature: / Date:
Hardcopies of this document are considered uncontrolled.
Please refer to the Health & Safety internet site for latest version.
Page 1 of 8 / Source: Manager, Health & Safety
Created: 23/01/2013
Document No: 106
Revised: N/A
Version No: 1