Guided walks – Risk Assessment
PART A: ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Establishment: / Coldwell / Names of Persons Undertaking Assessment: / Claire Ansell
Location: / Fields,woods and moorland surrounding Coldwell Activity Centre / Signatures:
Chairperson: / Gordon Salthouse / Date of Assessment: / December 2016
Signature: / Review Date: / December 2017
PART B: RISK RATING/LEVEL ESTIMATION GUIDANCE
Likelihood:Severity:Risk Level Matrix:Key
1 / Improbable / 1 / No or trivial injury/illness / L
I
k
e
l
I
h
o
o
d / 5 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 / Insignificant
2 / Unlikely / 2 / Minor Injury/Illness / 4 / 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 20 / Low
3 / Even Chance / 3 / 3+ Days Lost Time Injury/Illness / 3 / 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 / 15 / Moderate
4 / Likely / 4 / Major Injury/Severe Incapacity / 2 / 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / High
5 / Almost Certain / 5 / Death(s) / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / Intolerable
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Severity
PART C: IDENTIFIED HAZARDS
Hazard/
Task/
Activity / Type of
Harm / Who might
be harmed / Pre-Control
Risk
Rating / Existing
Controls / Additional Controls/
Comment / Post-Control
Risk
Rating
Uneven ground, drainage ditches and tussocks of rough grass / Tripping, stumbling, twisting ankles. / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Any person who chooses to participate in any walking activity must accept that these risks exist and that it is not possible or desirable to remove the inherent risk from natural areas. / 2 x 2 = 4
Drainage ditches and boggy ground / Slipping, falling, wet feet. / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Any person who chooses to participate in any walking activity must accept that these risks exist and that it is not possible or desirable to remove the inherent risk from natural areas. / 2 x 2 = 4
Hazard/
Task/
Activity / Type of
Harm / Who might
be harmed / Pre-Control
Risk
Rating / Existing
Controls / Additional Controls/
Comment / Post-Control
Risk
Rating
Tree branches / Scratching, especially at eye level. / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Any person who chooses to participate in any walking activity must accept that these risks exist and that it is not possible or desirable to remove the inherent risk from natural areas. / 2 x 2 = 4
Steep slopes/cliffs / Tripping, slipping, stumbling, twisting ankles & falling. / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Any person who chooses to participate in any walking activity must accept that these risks exist and that it is not possible or desirable to remove the inherent risk from natural areas. Warnings will be given for cliffs and steep slops, and provided walkers do not deviate from paths and instructions, any real risks may be avoided. / 2 x 2 = 4
Debris on ground / Tripping, stumbling, twisting ankles. / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Any person who chooses to participate in any walking activity must accept that these risks exist and that it is not possible or desirable to remove the inherent risk from natural areas. / 2 x 2 = 4
Deep water / Drowning / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing / The reservoirs are currently unaccessible to the public without climbing over walls and/or fences. Anyone choosing to deviate from the paths must accept responsibility for the inherent risks involved. / 2 x 2 = 4
Animal Carcasses / Infection, scratching, cutting, trauma / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing / Any domestic or farm animal carcasses are reported to the relevant authority, however we cannot guarantee that animal carcases will not be present along the walks. Care should be taken to avoid contact with any carcass and group leaders will point out any such hazard along the way. / 2 x 2 = 4
Sheep, cows and other livestock / Trampling, crushing, biting, goring / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity / 2x2=4 / Adequate pre-briefing / It is the responsibility of the landowners to ensure that no danger due to livestock is present to the public along rights of way. We cannot however guarantee that animals will not be present along the walks. Deviation should not be made from the footpaths, and in particular walls and fences should not be climbed over as there is a danger of harmful livestock on the other side. Care should be taken to avoid contact with any animals and group leaders will point out any such hazard along the way. / 2 x 2 = 4
Fallen trees / Tripping, twisting ankle, falling. / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Any person who chooses to participate in any walking activity must accept that these risks exist and that it is not possible or desirable to remove the inherent risk from natural areas. / 2 x 2 = 4
Barbed wire / Scratching/cutting / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Barbed wire exists along the top of some walls and fences running along the right hand boundary as you enter the woodland. The fences and walls can be given a wide berth. / 2 x 2 = 4
Dry stone walls / Crushing / Staff, visitors, participants in any walkingactivity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / Dry stone walls are present at many areas along the walks. These walls are affected by weather and damage caused by animals. Occasionally stones can become dislodged. No controls exist outside of the walls and users are advised to avoid coming into contact with them. / 2 x 2 = 4
Sheep/cow droppings / Slipping / Staff, visitors, participants in any walking activity. / 2 x 2 = 4 / Adequate pre-briefing. / These are a natural part of any rural environment and whilst care should be taken to avoid stepping in them, it would be unrealistic to attempt to remove this hazard. / 2 x 2 = 4
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times unless informed it is safe and permitted to do otherwise by your guide. During the summer months in particular, when the grass is long, some of the above hazards may not be immediately visible.
In the interests of safety please tread carefully – DO NOT RUN
PART D: ACTION PLANNo. /
Action Required
/Action By
/ RiskPriority / Projected
Time-scale / Date
Completed /
Notes/Comments
No action required or desirable
/N/A
/ N/A / N/A / N/AThe entire area will be checked by Coldwell Staff on at least a monthly basis. Please inform us of any additional hazards you may find.