QMSU Risk Assessment Form and Guidance
How to do a Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Your fellow students and members of the public have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.
The law does not expect you to eliminate all risk, but you are required to protect people as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’. As a society, you have a duty of care (in law) to make your activities as safe as possible. If there is an accident at your event you will be asked to show your risk assessment to demonstrate you have taken appropriate measures to reduce risk.
This guide tells you how to achieve that with minimum fuss.
Top Tips:
1) Think of a Risk Assessment as a checklist of how safe your activities are
2) Keep an electronic copy for easy uploading
3) Don't get bogged down in minor details but think about the main risks your activities pose.
4) Do your risk assessment as a group, maybe in a committee meeting
5) Check if your activity is covered by Union Insurance
Public Liability Insurance
Public Liability insurance provides cover in respect of legal liability to pay damages and costs to members of the public who are accidentally injured. Public Liability Insurance has a limit of £50 million.
Third parties often require proof of cover to give a brief summary of cover, stating the period of cover and policy number
All society and student group usual activities are covered by Queen Mary Students' Union Public Liability Insurance. This means your members are protected if they are injured or their property is damaged due to negligence.
However, personal accidents and injuries are not covered. The most effective way to reduce accidents is to identify potential risk and identify ways to reduce them.
Exemptions
The following activities are not covered by Union Insurance:
- Fundraising activities
- Social Events, Sports, Trips and Balls
- Any activity outside the UK
- Hired Costumes / Equipment.
Definitions:
Hazard The item/process/equipment identified as a danger.
Risk How / likelihood of the hazard causing harm
Control Measure A way to minimise the risk.
Who needs to do a risk assessment?
It is good practice to get into the routine of completing a risk assessment for all your activities. However, if you are organising an event which may not be covered by Union Insurance, this will be compulsory.
If you need to get extra insurance there will be a cost involved (therefore you will need to take this into consideration when budgeting for events).
Risks need to be evaluated a high medium or low before and after the control measure is put in place. This can help decide if existing control measures are adequate or whether more can be done. Risk can be calculated by multiplying the severity of risk by the likelihood of it happening.
Medium / HighLow / Medium
SEVERITY
LIKELIHOOD
Example Risk Assessment Form Society Name: Drama Society