Risk assessment
form (TM003)
e.g. desktop exercise, site visit, in consultation with employees, managers, safety representatives? / Next review date: /
November 2017 /
LIVESTOCK, DOGS, POISONOUS/TOXIC PLANTS, STINGS AND BITES / Desk top” exercise in consultation with employees and the Service Manager, Traffic and Transport Development / Is the assessment ‘generic’ or specific to the situation? /
Generic /
Who could be harmed, and how? / What is already being done to control the measures that need to be put in place? / Risk Rating * Severity x Likelihood / What further action is recommended to reduce risks further? / Action by whom? / Date action due / Date action done /
S / L / S x L /
Volunteers
Attacks/bites by inquisitive, stray and/or dangerous dogs / 1. If possible, staff should liase with colleagues or local authority Dog Warden Teams to check if the location is known to have dangerous/aggressive dogs.
2. If works being carried out on land where there is a known dangerous or aggressive dog(s), request that the owner keep the dog tethered or housed until the works are completed.
3. Never approach, greet or stroke a dog (whether or not it is accompanied by its owner). If the dog is roaming free, ask the owner to place it under close control, preferably on a lead.
4. If you are approached by a dog without its owner remain motionless with your hands by your sides, do not run or show fear. Keep the dog in sight but try to avoid eye contact. If you are carrying a piece of equipment keep it between you and the dog. Once the dog loses interest, back away slowly to a place of safety. If appropriate, report the incident to the relevant local Authority’s Dog Warden.
5. Appropriate First Aid kit to be available on site.
6. If bitten, seek medical assistance immediately. / 4 / 1 / 4
Low
Risk / 1. Refer to Risk Assessment TM 011 – Lone Working.
2. Dog warden contact phone numbers for Somerset
West Somerset dog warden 01643 70 37 04
Taunton Deane dog warden 01823 35 65 50
Sedgemoor dog warden 0845 408 25 46
Mendip dog warden 01749 64 89 99
South Somerset dog warden 01935 46 24 62
3. All volunteers to keep their inoculations up to date, particularly Tetanus.
4. Volunteers to ensure they provide up-to-date contact details to the local supervisor and a buddy system is agreed.
Volunteers
Contact with animal faeces / 1. If working in a high risk area, clean and cover cuts, bites and scratches with waterproof plaster/dressings etc
2. Check working area for animal faeces before commencing works.
3. If appropriate clear faeces wearing/using appropriate PPE.
4. Clean (and disinfect if necessary) hands before eating etc.
5. Do not touch your face, particularly around the eyes, until you have cleaned your hands. / 4 / 1 / 4
Low Risk
Volunteers
Stings and anaphylactic shock / 1. Before commencing works, volunteers to check immediate working area for bee/ wasp and/or Hornet nests.
2. If nest is located, works should immediately cease and the area cleared. Works should not recommence until the nest has been made safe by appropriate personnel or advice sought.
3. If nest known to exist beyond working area, a safe distance should be maintained between the nest and personnel. If appropriate, a safe emergency/escape route must be provided to evade a potential swarm.
4. Appropriate First Aid kit to be available on site.
5. Staff/volunteers who know they could suffer from Anaphylactic Shock must declare this when completing the medical form which they will fill in at the highways safety awareness training day. / 4 / 1 / 4
Low Risk / 1. Volunteers to ensure they provide up-to-date contact details to the local supervisor and a buddy system is agreed.
.
Volunteers
Snake (Adder) bites
(Bites can occur throughout the year but are most likely between June and August). / 1. Visually check the work area for Adders. Their preferred habitat includes warm lowland heaths and coastal slopes.
2. Wear stout boots with ankle protection. If wearing shoes wear gaiters/thick socks if appropriate.
3. If bitten, do not suck the wound. Immobilise the patient and splint the arm or leg to reduce dispersal of venom.
4. Immediately seek medical attention. / 4 / 1 / 4
Low Risk / 1. Volunteers to ensure they provide up-to-date contact details to the local supervisor and a buddy system is agreed.
Volunteers
Toxic/poisonous plants:
There are many plants that are poisonous if consumed that can be found in the UK’s hedgerows.
These include:
'Devil's helmet' plant, or Monkshood
Deadly nightshade
Wolfsbane
Foxglove
Hemlock / 1. Volunteers should familiarise themselves with Britain’s common toxic/poisonous plants.
2. When working or walking in dense vegetation), wear appropriate clothing to include long trousers, long sleeved top and strong/stout boots.
3. Before commencing work, visually check working area for toxic/poisonous plants.
4. Wear appropriate PPE when cutting vegetation. PPE to include appropriate gloves and visor/goggles.
5. Continually check your body for symptoms including inflammation, swelling and blistering.
6. If symptoms appear, apply appropriate first aid
and seek medical attention.
7. Clean (and disinfect if necessary) hands before eating etc.
8. Do not touch your face, particularly around the eyes, until you have cleaned your hands.
9. Do not consume wild plants or fungi. / 4 / 2 / 8
Low Risk / 1. Refer to Risk Assessment TM 003a ‘picture gallery of toxic plants’
2. Volunteers to ensure they provide up-to-date contact details to the local supervisor and a buddy system is agreed.
Giant hogweed
Ragwort / 1. Volunteers should not strim or cut giant hogweed or Ragwort. Contact SCC area office if giant hogweed or Ragwort is found on site.
2. If accidental contact is made with this plant, do not touch your face particularly around the eyes or eat food until you have cleaned your hands / 4 / 5 / 20
High Risk / 1. With regards to ragwort and giant hogweed, the area highways offices respond reactively to service requests from members of the general public. If ragwort or giant hogweed is identified then this should be reported by email, to the respective areas offices, or logged through the call centre.
Area Office email addresses are;
· ,
· .
· .
· .
Call centre number is; 0300 123 224.
2. If you have accidently made contact with giant hogweed, continually check your body and hands for symptoms including inflammation, swelling and blistering.
3. Refer to Risk Assessment TM003a ‘picture gallery of toxic plants’
4. Volunteers to ensure they provide up-to-date contact details to the local supervisor and a buddy system is agreed.
* Click here for guidance in calculating Risk Rating. Rate the severity of the potential harm (between 1-5, where 5 is fatal) and the likelihood of the harm occurring (again 1-5 where 5 is very likely). Guidance is at HS 004.
Please now pass this assessment to your manager for approval /Name of assessor’s manager: / Bev Norman / Date: / 13/2/2017 / Manager’s comments /
Signature: / /