Need help with your risk assessment? Visit or contact your designated staff member

(For Societies/Committees: )

Society/Committee: Various (see trip form?) Date of Risk Assessment: 01/09/2017 – 31/08/2018

Event/Activity: UK Walking/Hiking TripCompleted by (Name/Position): Students’ Union staff on behalf of Sheffield SU’s registered societies and committees.

Event/Activity Location: Various (see trip form) Contact details(telephone & email): 0114 222 28689

Date of Event/Activity: Various (see trip form)Other Persons Consulted (if any):,Tim Bowell, SGS team.

Please note that this is a standardised risk assessment. If there are any specific risks associated with your walking trip which are not covered in this risk assessment then you must inform the relevant staff member in the Activities & Sports Zone.

SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS
What might cause harm? / RISK
Who might be harmed and how? / CONTROL MEASURES: EXISTING AND PROPOSED
What are you already doing to control the risk?
What else do you need to do? / Action by who?
Person(s) / Action by when?
Date
Weather / Any participant: hypothermia, hyperthermia & exposure / lightning strikes/ high winds delaying progress / Knowledge of weather forecast; knowledge of route & alternative routes; appropriately experienced leaders; leaders carry appropriate clothing, equipment and food for leading group; participants to have appropriate equipment, supplies and fitness to participate; leaders advise anyone under-equipped not to take part in the activity; first aid training of leaders; carry first aid kit. / Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Walking in countryside / Any participant through exhaustion, tiredness. /
  • Stick to well defined paths.
  • Take regular breaks.
  • Keeps walks to reasonable distances.
  • Leaders take in to account the experience of the walkers and ensure that the walk, hike is suitable for them and the pace is governed by the less experienced.
/ Trip leader, committee members, all participants. / During trip
Dehydration / Every participant through excessive exercise or lack of fluids /
  • Take plenty of water
  • Regular breaks
  • Sun protection
/ Trip leader, committee members, all participants. / Before and during trip
Nature of terrain / Any participant: slips, trips & falls / Participants made aware of equipment necessary; leaders advise anyone under-prepared not to take part; suitably experienced leaders; good group management; clear safety &emergency procedures; first-aid kit carried. / Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Getting lost / Any participant: risk of benightment as below. Also of straying into steep precipitous terrain & resulting trips & falls / Route planned carefully.
Map, compass, charged phone, torch & whistle to be carried by leader (at least one member of the group to have a watch).
Suitably experienced walk leader; participants suitably equipped; appropriate use of ‘home contact’.
Home contact: if returning to a staffed location (e.g. Youth Hostel), then details will be left of route, estimated time of return and contact details. Alternatively, information to be shared with other committee member(s) not participating in the walk/hike and confirmation of group’s safe return to be communicated by group leader.
If ‘home contact’ committee member(s) do not receive confirmation of safe return within the expected timeframe then they will attempt to contact the group. If they are unable to establish contact then they will contact University Security Services (0114 222 4085). / Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Benightment / Any participant: exposure & hypothermia depending on conditions / Experienced leaders; appropriate route selection for the group; appropriate safety equipment carried; appropriate use of ‘home contact’ & knowledge of call out procedures. / Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Remoteness /
  • Getting lost
  • Being unable to call for emergency help
  • Rescue services taking a long time of arrive/ find the group
All of the above contributing to any injuries becoming more serious & possible hypothermia /
  • Ensure activity leads always have appropriate emergency kit.
  • Ensure that home contact is aware of route being taken and time group is expected to arrive back.
  • All leaders to have appropriate knowledge of navigation for the terrain and be confident in map reading.
  • Qualified first aiders present on all walks.
  • In case of emergency:
Dial 999 and ask for Police and then Mountain Rescue.
Relevant details to be shared: Location (grid ref if possible); name, gender and age of casualty; nature of injuries or emergency; number of people in the party; mobile phone number. Group to remain in their current position until contacted by the rescue team. / Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) if walking along/ on a road / Any participant: death / severe injuries /
  • Good leadership & discipline of the group
  • Walk well into the side of the road
  • Walk on the right side of the road unless the group the group is larger than 10 as a group of that size is considered a vehicle and must walk on the left.
  • Wear Hi-Vis over clothes if walking on road at night.
/ Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Existing Medical Conditions / Any participant: participants’ medical conditions can be exacerbated by conditions on walks /
  • Participants to sign participation and medical statement to ensure that leader is aware of any relevant medical conditions.
/ Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Group variation in terms of fitness and experience. / Group becomes split. Participants struggle and more prone to accident/injury. /
  • Slowest person in the group to determine the pace.
  • Special care to be taken of less confident hikers in dangerous places.
  • Leader to regularly check that the group is complete.
  • Someone to be appointed “back leader” to ensure no one is falling behind.
/ Trip leader / Before and during activity.
Comments: