Forest Kindergarten Sevenoaks Risk Assessment & Risk-Benefit Analysis Date: October 2018 Review Date: September 2020 Hazard Harm People at risk Prob 1-5 Sev- 1-5 Rat- ing Control measures Who & When? Benefits Hazard Harm People at risk Prob 1-5 Sev- 1-5 Rat- ing Control measures Who & When? Benefits 1 High winds Falling branches/trees Injury/death Staff, volunteer s, children, parents 1 5 5 Move to a tree-free site for the session if available/cancel session Manager -warning night before - decision@ 7am Session gets to go ahead safely/ all stay safe 2 High humidity Heat stroke, dehydration, unsettled behaviour All 1 5 5 Ensure supply of drinking water. If too high, consider cancelling session. Manager At beginning of session and throughout or before 7am Learning to be resilient, communication, working together 3 Sunshine Sunburn, heat stroke, sunstroke, dehydration All 1 5 5 Ensure drinking water supply accessible, ensure children have sun protection/ sunhat Parents apply sun protection before session and provide supply to top up with as necessary. Learning to be safe in the sun, resilient, communication, working together Shelter building, den building 4 Cold temperatures Feeling cold, hypothermia, frostbite All but especially children 1 5 5 Ensure appropriate clothing and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) worn, carry warm drink, spare clothes, emergency shelter, foil blanket. Parents to ensure children dress appropriate to weather and supply warm drink in flask, Manager- spares, shelter. Learning about safe in the cold, resilient, communication, working together Shelter building, den building, fire lighting, cooking
5 Heavy rain conditions Feeling cold, hypothermia, Behaviour may be affected All 1 3 3 PPE, emergency shelter Parents to dress children appropriately, Manager to carry spares Learning about rain, resilient, communication, working together Shelter building, den building, 6 Barbed wire Cuts, infection All 2 2 4 Instruct children not to touch FSL in charge Staff and children Increase awareness of caring for environment, communication skills, caring for each other 7 Litter Cuts, infection All 2 2 4 Sweep site on arrival, remove if any seen, instruct children not to touch FSL in charge Staff and children Increase awareness of caring for environment, communication skills, caring for each other 8 Uneven ground layer due to holes or roots Trips, sprains, strain, breaks, grazes, bumps Adults, children 2 4 8 Raising awareness of hazards, cordoning off if needed Everyone be aware and highlight anything they may find Children and adults Ongoing Increasing spatial awareness, motor skills, balance, communication skills, caring for each other, learning to fall and land safely. 9 Dogs off lead Bite, fright Adults and children 3 3 9 Tell children to stand still and wait, do not approach without asking permission, Adults stay with children at all times until dog gone. Adults ongoing Teach children how to be safe around unknown dogs, challenge children’s fear, learn to talk to strangers safely. 10 Animal faeces infection All 2 4 8 Sweep site on arrival, remove if any seen, instruct children not to touch FSL in charge Staff and children Increase awareness of environment, communication skills, caring for environment and each other
11 Nettles/ Brambles Stings Possible allergic reaction/ scratches/ cuts All 3 2 6 Sweep site, check paths and cut back when needed, PPE, Everyone be aware and highlight anything they may find, Manager and FSL Plant identification, resilience, caring for each other, communication skills Hazard Harm People at risk Prob 1-5 Sev- 1-5 Rat- ing Control measures Who & When? Benefits 12 Insect stings/bite Stings/ bites Possible allergies All 1 5 5 First Aid Kit, including tick remover to be carried FSL/Manager First Aider to administer first aid if needed and call 112. Insect identification, learning about habitats, resilience, communication 13 Dead wood in canopy Head injury, breaks/ bruises All 1 5 5 Sweep site daily, cut back and remove Areas for concern will be taped off and removed from play until dealt with Manager, landowner Communication, resilience, caring for each other 14 Poisonous plants, berries, fungi Sickness, stomach aches, death All 1 5 5 Chn supervised at all times, picking allowed under close supervision, Children instructed to NOT put anything in their mouths, unless checked it is safe; hand washing facilities available before snack and lunch. All staff and children Plant identification, looking out for each other, learning about foraging 15 Tetanus risk from cuts e.g. thorns on brambles or barbed wire fence. Illness, death All 1 5 5 All children should be immunised before starting preschool. Check upon entry to Kindergarten. Cuts treated and covered. Staff ensure tetanus immunisation up to date- every 10 yrs. Manager, Staff
16 Car Park Injury, death All 1 5 5 Chn supervised by parents on arrival/leaving. Children kept away from cars when at site. Parents Staff Awareness of road safety, 17 Members of the public Loss of child, damage to child Children 1 5 5 Staff supervise children at all times, in calling distance and sight at all times. All Adults Opportunities to meet new people, learn to talk to people with adult supervision. Hazard Harm People at risk Prob 1-5 Sev- 1-5 Rat- ing Control measures Who & When? Benefits 18 Tree/slope Climbing/slidin g Fall, graze, bruise, break Children 2 4 8 Adult to stand next to child climbing in case support needed, children only climb as high as adult can reach. Adults Self-esteem and confidence building, nature awareness, self-awareness, resourcefulness, social skills, imaginative / role play 19 Shelter/den building Slip/ trip/ fall/ bump/ cut/ splinters/ puncture wounds (including eyes)/ lifting injury All 2 4 4 PPE, Staff supervise and offer advice as needed, instructions on how to lift /carry heavy logs, branches at eye level to be cut back prior to session, First Aid Kit to be available at all times Manager/FSL to ensure cutting back of protruding branches, Staff Teamwork, communication skills, physical development, problem solving, resourcefulness, creative skills, selfesteem, confidence.
20 Mud play Cuts form concealed sharps, infection, disease All 1 3 3 PPE, check site is clear of litter/ faeces, carry gloves & wrapping for safe removal, first aid kit available, cuts to be cleaned and covered as soon as possible, Open cuts/sores should be covered before starting activity, wash hands after play, immunisations up to date before enrolling at kindergarten, Manager (site sweep) ongoing & staff Tactile experience, creative and imaginative play, exploration of properties, social interaction and communication, unstructured role play 21 Nature craft activities Cuts, allergies Children, those helping 2 2 4 PPE including gloves if necessary If using tools supervising staff to give clear instruction on correct procedures and supervise 1:1 Check allergies of children in advance of activities Staff and Manager Creative expression and imagination, design, problem solving, self-esteem, increased valuation of nature, resourcefulness Hazard Harm People at risk Prob 1-5 Sev- 1-5 Rat- ing Control measures Who & When? Benefits 22 Walking or climbing on slippery ground/ logs Trip, fall, bump, injury puncture wounds (inc eye), cuts, asthma attack All 2 4 8 PPE, Supervision at all times, staff to be aware of asthmatics in group and location of inhaler, First aid kit available. All staff Self-esteem and confidence building, nature and awareness, selfawareness, resourcefulness, social skills, imaginative play/ role play
25 Cooking Burns, puncture wounds All 2 4 8 (As for Fire lighting) Safety talk given about not touching hot things, not waving cooking equipment, hot sticks about, small working group, high adult/child ratio, keep activity small and appropriate, 2 adults present – 1 for supervising cooking and fire, 1- in charge of wider area, keep calm atmosphere at all time, model good practice and procedure around the fire area All staff Practical skills (tool use), experience of cooking using different methods, understanding changes in materials, understand safe practice and personal risk, teamwork skills, social cohesion and community, communication skills, cultural/historical links (cooking methods, community fire activities) 26 Using tools Bow saw, loppers, peelers, knife, scissors, billhook, secateurs Tripping, falling, cuts, impailing All 2 4 8 Transport of tools safely, PPE to be worn as appropriate, Adult to work 1:1 with child, deliver tool talk and instruction, correct body position taught, ensure safety cover on tool, keep tool maintenance up to date, First aid kit available Staff As required Experience of using tools, Creative expression and imagination, design, problem solving, selfesteem, increased valuation of nature, resourcefulness, communication, working together, practical life skills, Date: 05/09/2018 Name: Caroline Watts Reviewed: