Please note that this risk assessment is offered in an advisory capacity only. Neither the Geographical Association nor Bob Digby are in any way responsible for how this is used, and it is offered strictly on that understanding. Schools must at all times maintain full responsibility for any risks whether perceived or real.

It is designed on the basis of one school member of staff per 10 students.

RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LONDON OLYMPICS FIELD TRIP ON (insert date)

DEPARTMENTGeographyRISK ASSESSORSRisk completed by xxxx (name).

DATESIGNED (Head of Dept)

Hazard / Persons at risk / Risk Controls In Place / Further Action To Control Risk
Pre-visit assessment of hazards en route to destination / Students / To be carried out by the school:
  • Pre-visit briefing to all pupils by the school
  • Letter of permission sought from parents
  • Contact numbers and list of students / staff left in school office. School Office also given contact details
/ Students given staff mobile phone numbers
Students know where staff are at all times
Remote supervision minimised; locations to which this may apply:
a)Stratford (refreshment stop)
b)Stratford New Town and Hackney Wick (for EQ and perception surveys)
c)Canary Wharf (under cover and traffic free)
Risk minimisation factors:
  • Group leader (name) knows area and specific route
  • all students have designated route to follow shown in printed field study booklet
  • students must know staff mobile numbers in advance
  • students must be briefed about what to do in event of emergency at each location
  • students briefed about staying in groups of 3-4 and what to do in respect of obtaining help in the event of an emergency

Roads: walking in east London
High risk areas:
  • Canalside walk between Hackney Wick and Pudding Mill Lane
  • Crossing roads in Canary Wharf, Cubitt Town and main roads in Stratford
/ All /
  • Staff at front and back of group
  • Pupils divided into working groups of 3-4, in which they work all day
  • Students reminded of platform safety when travelling by rail or tube/DLR
  • Canalside walk – students briefed about risk
  • Crossing road at designated points; Victoria Road and main roads in Stratford to be crossed ONLY by pedestrian lit crossings
  • Students made aware of staff presence and location throughout the day

Journeys by public transport – safety and/or loss of members of group
High risk areas:
  • All London surface rail, underground and DLR stations
/ Students / Group leader to ensure that:
  • Students reminded of platform safety
  • Staff counts take place throughout the day
  • Pupils are divided into travel groups – groups of no more than 10 students (or as decided by the school)
  • Where group is split, staff presence in each carriage and with every group of 10 students maximum
  • Ensure everyone is aware of disembarkation points
  • Staff and students briefed re what to do if someone left behind on platform, or gets on wrong train

Return Journey
details need to be completed by the school / Students /
  • Details to be completed for return journey
  • Parental consent form to be obtained for all students if they are to return home by their own means
  • Students to be accompanied by staff to school if no consent is provided.

Health concerns
  • First Aid provision
  • Special needs – e.g. asthma, diabetes, allergies
High risk students:
School to complete this with names of all students with pre-reported condition / All /
  • School staff to be aware which members of party are affected
  • School staff briefed regarding what to do if incident occurs
  • Contact and briefing from School Medical staff
  • School staff carry school-approved First Aid kits at all times

Personal safety concerns
Specific concerns relating to meeting or encountering strangers / All / School staff to brief students about:
  • Instructions on behaviour and courtesy to public
  • Students must not be in groups of less than 3 (or as appropriate) at any stage
  • Briefing about what to do if difficult strangers encountered – immediate contact with staff, police etc
  • Immediate summoning of (or by phone to) members of staff if incident arises.

Specific work-related risks

Hazard / Persons at risk / Risk Controls In Place / Further Action To Control Risk
1. Stratford and Canary Wharf / All /
  1. All members of party given briefing by staff on arrival about the geography of the area, and its potential for security alerts
/ Group stays together at all times during this component
2. Stratford New Town and Hackney Wick / All /
  1. Members of staff on each side of road, monitoring safety and student progress in meeting members of the public
/ Staff in immediate contact in case of incident
3. Canalside walk between Hackney Wick and Pudding Mill Lane and observation points for Olympics / All /
  1. ODA traffic controls in place for road crossing
  2. The Greenway – a pedestrianised area, generally safe except for occasional cyclist.
  3. Canal risks

4. Stratford and other main road locations /
  1. Road crossing monitored by all staff
  2. Students work in remote controlled groups on questionnaire surveys, monitored by members of staff
/ Students remain in working groups throughout
Survey work –
  • Losing members of party
  • Traffic / road hazards
  • Hostile members of public
  • Adverse weather conditions
/ All /
  • Students work in groups; member of staff in close proximity
  • Regular check-in points
  • Provision of mobile phone numbers to pupils
  • Instructions on behaviour and courtesy to public
  • Immediate summoning of (or by phone to) members of staff if incident arises.
  • Maximum exposure to outside weather 1 hour
  • Dress code for waterproofs / appropriate clothing

Note to visiting school staff; If you prefer not to give your mobile number to students, please ensure that you book and sign out a school mobile and issue this number to all students on the day.