Dublin in the grip of an Ice Age Risk assessment- a bus tour of the Wicklow Mountains
A day in the field:
- At the most basic level you need:
Waterproof clothing and a change of clothes if you are prone to getting wet!
Strong,ankle supporting and waterproof boots
Several layers of warm clothing including warm headwear and gloves. (Consider bringing an extra woolly jumper/fleece/tracksuit. In case you get very wet.)
Your packed lunch and a vacuum flask with a warm drink/soup.
- You must be in good health
- You should take care getting on and off the bus. Watch for traffic and take care crossing the road. Do not step out from the front/ rear of bus.
- Stay clear of rivers and cliffs/ drops/ slippery surfaces
- We will be on boggy ground. Watch your step and ask for assistance if you need it.
- You must have suitable clothing for a day out of doors and a change of clothes. If you do get cold or feel unwell inform one of the leaders straight away
- You should be careful of any valuables you may bring (camera, MP3 player, ipod, handbag...). Keep valuables with you.
- If you get a tick bite and a rash later develops (a possible sign of infection with Lyme’s Disease) you should see your GP and inform her/him of the bite.
- Do not drink water from lakes and rivers
Fieldwork Risk Assessment
Fieldwork should never involve a significant risk to your safety or the safety of others. You should always seek to identify any significant risks that might be associated with your planned activities before considering: first, how these risks might be eliminated; second, if the risks cannot be eliminated completely, the precautions that can be taken to ensure an acceptable level of safety.
Assessments of risk should be suitable and sufficient rather than elaborate and minutely detailed. When identifying and evaluating risks and appropriate precautions you should base your assessment on what a well-informed person would consider reasonable.
What hazards or risks are associated with the activities you intend to undertake?
Almost all activities involve some degree of risk. You should consider particularly those risks that:
- are specific to the planned activity
e.g. are associated with working in and around rivers
- can be reasonably foreseen
- are likely to have serious consequences
e.g. result in injury
- may be accentuated by any disabilities, illnesses etc. that you might have at the time of fieldwork.
You should also give some thought to the possible ethical implications of your fieldwork. Sometimes research can have serious consequences for the groups or individuals being studied.
What hazards or risks are associated with the location(s) where you will be working and the time at which you are carrying out fieldwork?
- Some activities may be effectively risk free in some locations but potentially dangerous in others.
For example, it is reasonable to anticipate that conducting an interview in the head office of a large company will be relatively safe whereas conducting interviews in other situations may involve a higher degree of risk.
Similarly, some activities may involve an unacceptable degree of risk simply because they are taking place in remote and isolated locations.
- Some risks vary according to the time of the fieldwork. For example, working at night often involves a higher risk than the same work carried out during the day.
What precautions will be taken to mitigate risk?
- Can the risk be totally eliminated?
- If the risk cannot be totally eliminated, can you ensure an acceptable level of safety?
If neither of the above conditions is met, you should not undertake the activity concerned.
CHECKLISTS
Field Trip Leaders
Prof. Peter Coxon
Field Trip Location
DNFC Bus tour of Wicklow Mountains and adjoining lowlands
Dates
One day trip 22nd March 2014
Please tick the relevant boxes and look in detail at the relevant risks before producing your Risk Assessment which must be handed to the Head of Department, along with the sheet provided at the beginning of this document, prior to undertaking any field trip.
CHECKLIST 2 (FEASIBILITY OF FIELDTRIP:)
ACCESSTravel Arrangements. Ensure everyone knows details and book
well in advance.√
Permission to work on site. Ensure prior permission for access to
private property has been obtained.√
Provision for disabled. Provide requirements where necessary.N/A
Availability of assistance. Get emergency phone numbers for locality
in advance of any field-work.999
Accommodation. Ensure all accommodation is satisfactory and safe.N/A
Insurance. Get travel insurance where needed.N/A
FITNESSPre expedition training should be undertaken when necessary.N/A
TRAININGEnsure some or all participants on any field-trip are adequately
trained in particular areas as required.
Navigation√
First aid√
LanguagesN/A
Interpersonal skills√
Hygiene / health education√
Specific skills e.g. diving, caving, etc.N/A
HEALTHHealth questionnaire must be filled in by students prior to field tripsN/A
Medical / dental check-up where necessary.N/A
Vaccinations when applicable to area or work.N/A
First aid kits should be taken on all field work and are available from the Departmental Safety Officer. √
STAFFINGStaff / student ratio should not exceed a ratio of 1:15N/A
Competence of leaders. Leaders should be safety trained.√
Appointment of deputies. Here only suitable and competent people
must be appointed leaders/ deputies.√
CHECKLIST 3RISKS INHERENT IN SITE
PHYSICAL HAZARDS Leaders should make participants aware of the
following possible hazards. All precautions including
weather forecasts should be taken into account.
Extreme weather√
Mountains and cliffs√
Caves, mines and quarries√
Beaches and seashoreN/A
Sea, lakes and rivers√
Forests√
Roadside√
Urban areasN/A
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDSLeaders should make participants aware of potential
hazards in this area.
AnimalsN/A
PlantsN/A
Pathogenic micro-organisms√
CHEMICAL HAZARDSLeaders should make participants aware of potential
hazards in this area.
Agrochemical and pesticidesN/A
DustsN/A
Chemicals on siteN/A
MAN MADE HAZARDSLeaders should make participants aware of potential
hazards in this area.
Machinery and vehicles√
Power lines and pipesN/A
Electrical equipmentN/A
Insecure buildingsN/A
Slurry and silage pitsN/A
Attack on the person or propertyN/A
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS Leaders should make participants aware of potential
hazards in this area.
PollutionN/A
Disturbance of Eco-system√
Waste minimisationN/A
HEALTH HAZARDSWhere applicable any of these hazards relevant to
the particular field work should be brought to the
attention of the participants.
Dehydration√
Insect Bites (Mosquito)N/A
Animal BitesN/A
SunburnN/A
Allergies to local factorsN/A
Lymes / Weils diseases√
Food-poisoningN/A
Excess alcoholN/A
Misuse of listed substancesN/A
Impure water√
ACCOMMODATIONEvery participant should treat the accommodation
with respect and take other people into consideration. Participants should be made aware of potential hazards
in the accommodation as per list below.
StairsN/A
BalconiesN/A
Misuse of LiftsN/A
Correct use of swimming poolsN/A
SOCIAL / RECREATIONAL Participants must be made aware that there are hazardsHAZARDS associated with social and recreational pursuits.
SwimmingN/A
Alcohol ExcessN/A
Illegal Substance AbuseN/A
Stay within capabilities√
CHECKLIST 4 RISKS INHERENT IN WORK
TRAININGEnsure some or all participants on any field-trip are adequately
trained in particular areas as required.
Navigation, map-reading and compass work√
Survival / rescue√
First aid√
Specialist training e.g.conduct on boatsN/A
Advanced drivingN/A
DivingN/A
CavingN/A
Rock climbingN/A
Hill walking√
Ladders and scaffoldingN/A
PERSONAL The following should be brought to the attention of the participants.
Risk of attackN/A
Communication as routine√
Communication in emergency√
General Road Safety√
CHECKLIST 5 ORGANISATION OF FIELDWORK
To avoid risks take note of the following
PRE-PLANNINGTravel documentN/A
Note of next of kin and GP √ /N/A
Note of particular medical problemsN/A
Appropriate authorities informedN/A
CATERINGProvision of foodN/A
HygieneN/A Portable and potable water supply √
Food preparation and storageN/A
Fuel for cookingN/A
THE GROUPLeader (experience / competence)√
Chain of commandN/A
Staff / student ratio√
Interpersonal relationshipsN/A
Max. / Min. size of groupN/A
Responsibilities for aspects of work√
AccommodationN/A
THE INDIVIDUALAvoid lone worker situations√
Adequate and suitable clothing√
Individually trained and fitN/A
Physical handicapsN/A
EQUIPMENTFit for purpose√
Used properly√
Well maintained√
Repairable on siteN/A
CHECKLIST 6CONDUCT OF FIELDWORK
To avoid risks take note of the following
CONDITIONSWeather forecast√
(Local)Local knowledge√
Farming practices√
Itinerary and return times√
TRANSPORTAppropriately licensed drivers/vehiclebus√
Correctly maintainedbus√
Correctly loadedbus√
Appropriate sparesbus√
Seat beltsbus
Fuelbus√
THE GROUPRoll call√
Correctly equipped√
Not overloaded√
First aid kit√
Survival aids√
Group size and supervision√
WORKINGAvoid lone worker√
PRACTICESCommunications√
“Buddy ” system or lookouts√
Safe working systems√
Permit to work√
Worker trained and fit√
Time to be spent working√
EMERGENCIESAll participants should be made aware of procedures in an emergency including cognisance of the following.
Communications √
Protection of remaining group√
Chain of command√
Trained personnel√
Evacuation√
Recovery of casualties√
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR PROPOSED FIELD TRIP
Activity: Bus tour for 24 people close to road in mountain environment.
Conditions environment encountered: Mountain environment. Possibly cold/wet/windy. Participants informed about clothing and warm drinks etc
Result of hazard identification:
I have warned the participants in advance (attached) and will check weather forecasts. Bus will remain very proximal to fieldwork for evacuation/warmth should it be required. We will carry mobile ‘phones and full first aid kits including emergency shelters.
As no individual will be required to stray far from the group and as we are close to local roads the assessment of risk is that it is low.
Persons affected:
- Person in charge of field trip
- Participants attending
State information sources used:
Risk Assessment: Low
The above field trip has been authorized in accordance with the procedures outlined in Department Safety Manual.
Head of Department:
Prof. Peter Coxon
Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2012
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