RISK ASSESSMENT
School
Activity
Assessment completed by:
Name:
Hazard
Unsafe storage
Persons Exposed and
How
Employees
Children
Parents
Visitors
Impact injury
Fall of unrestrained cylinder
could present a
crush/impact hazard
Unsafe storage
(cont)
Pressure Uncontrolled
release of gas under
200+bar pressure can cause
personal injury
Date:
Administration of oxygen, and the safe
use, handling, storage of the cylinder
Review Date:
Signature:
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by
Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Suitable information, instruction training &
supervision provided to school staff, same to
include an Oxygen cylinder stored in appropriate
location. Oxygen cylinder must be appropriately
positioned and stored.
When oxygen cylinder has to accompany pupil at
different locations in the school, ensure that
oxygen is appropriately stored, for example
classroom, PE hall etc.
NIFRS informed that oxygen is stored on premises
Printed visual labels and warnings displayed on/at
storage area
Written oxygen safety information displayed.
Page 1
Hazard
Exposure to naked
flames or heat
sources e.g.
open/gas fires
candles cooking
appliances
Kinking or
entrapment of
tubing in e.g. under
furniture, doors,
wheels, school bags,
Hand creams and
Alcohol hand
rubs/gels
School not informed
on how to obtain
replacement
cylinders
Persons Exposed and
How
Employees
Children
Parents Visitors
Oxygen is an oxidising
agent, it accelerates fires,
cylinder can become a
missile or explosive device
pupil
Insufficient administration
of oxygen
Employees
Children
Parents and Visitors
Hand creams are petroleum
based and hence
flammable, as are alcohol
hand gels until dry
Pupil
Pupil may suffer severe
breathing difficulties which
could have catastrophic
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by
Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Information supplied by supplier of oxygen cylinder
Pupil, teacher and classroom assistant informed to
maintain a safe distance from fires and naked
flame appliances, if oxygen cylinder is in use.
Only to move cylinders in the event of a fire if safe
to do so
Checks in place to ensure there are not any kinks in
the tubing and that the tubing is not trapped
between furniture or trapped e.g. under wheels,
tangled in schoolbag etc. Staff are provided with
appropriate training and information from
paediatric respiratory nurse at Royal Belfast
Hospital for Sick Children.
Staff informed ensure that hands are clean and dry
and that hand creams/moisturisers are not used
immediately prior to handling cylinders
In an emergency i.e. failure of cylinder, the school
has an additional oxygen cylinder stored *INCLUDE
LOCATION IN SCHOOL*
Parents to ensure that cylinder which accompanies
the pupil is within use-by-date. School to inform
Page 2
Hazard
Persons Exposed and
How
effects for pupil.
Poor governance of
cylinder.
Employees
Children
Parents
Visitors
Explosive or leakage risk
Theft
Accidental or malicious
tampering
Manual Handling
Fire
Employees
Children
Parents
Visitors
Inappropriate handling can
lead to finger entrapment,
pulled muscles or back
injury
Employees
Children
Parents
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by
Whom
Action by
When
Completed
parent when additional cylinder is out of date,
broken etc. so that replacement can be ordered.
Parent to order additional cylinder.
School has appointed a person to carry out visual
checks on the cylinder e.g. visual inspection, expiry
date, contamination, and tamperproof seal intact if
cylinder not used previously etc.
Principal has appointed an appropriate person to
carryout visual checks of oxygen cylinders and to
ensure that cylinders are maintained and serviced
by cylinder supplier. Further training on
administering oxygen to be delivered by
respiratory nurse.
Staff trained on the use handling and storage of
oxygen cylinder.
Secure storage of cylinders
Anyone involved in lifting the oxygen cylinder have
received information, instruction, and supervision
on correct manual handling techniques.
Child or staff do not carry oxygen cylinder. Oxygen
is appropriately stored within the school site.
It is recommended to limit the carrying of the
cylinder to a minimum.
Cylinder to be suitably transported by adult only
e.g. appropriate trolley etc.
Fire procedures include arrangements and review
of fire risk assessment for removal or isolation of
cylinders and information to emergency fire
Page 3
Hazard
Persons Exposed and
How
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by
Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Visitors
Spontaneous ignition
Smoking
Oxygen Enrichment
Access / Egress
Tripping hazards
O2 is an Oxidising agent it
accelerates fires,
cylinder can become a
missile or explosive devise
Employees
Children
Parents and Visitors
Employees
Children
Parents, Visitors
Clothing becoming enriched
with oxygen due to leaking
valve or tubing can easily
ignite
Employees
Children
Parents
Visitors
storage doors locked,
blocked or poor
housekeeping can prevent
access to cylinders or exit
from room/building in in
emergency situation
Employees
Information , instruction training & supervision is
provided to ensure that oil/grease products, rags
or gloves are not used anywhere near cylinders
valves services
School has a ‘No smoking policy which all staff
have been made aware of and adhere to, includes
e-cigarettes.
Information, instruction training & supervision are
provided and staff instructed to remove all clothing
immediately and ventilate for at least 30 minutes
Information, instruction training & supervision is
provided. Storage area is part of regular work place
inspection, access is readily available
Information , instruction training & supervision is
Page 4
Hazard
Persons Exposed and
How
Current Controls
Children
Parents and Visitors
loose or uncontrolled
oxygen tubing and cylinders
can be tripping hazards
provided.– cylinders and equipment are stored and
used in accordance with safe working practises
Transportation of
cylinders
Driver / passengers / end
user / other road users
Noise
Employees
Children
Parents
Visitors
Uncontrolled release of gas

Information , instruction training &
supervision is provided.– Cylinders are
secure, in a well-ventilated area. No
naked flames
 Hazard warning labels displayed, safety
data information available and
understood
 Cylinders are securely restrained within
vehicles
 Oxygen is not used during transit unless
necessary
 Ensure insurance provider is aware of the
need to transport O2
 Carry TREM card
Teachers and pupils in vicinity of oxygen cylinder
are informed that an uncontrolled release of
oxygen is accompanied with a high noise level
which could affect noise sensitive children with
Asperger’s or Autism. All children to be instructed
to cover ears if instructed to do so by the teacher.
Further Action
Necessary
Action by
Whom
Action by
When
Completed
.
Page 5
Hazard
Persons Exposed and
How
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by
Whom
Action by
When
Completed
causes high noise levels due
to pressure
Administration of
oxygen:
management of this
within school
Employees
Children
Parents
Visitors
Unauthorised
adjustment of flow
rate on oxygen
equipment
Children

Aerosols or friction toys are not stored in
the same area.
 Very oxygen sensitive patients will be
issued with an alert card by medical
personnel from trust and appropriate
oxygen mask and tubing for use in
ambulance transfers.
 Principal has appointed an appropriate
person to manage administration, of
oxygen to pupil and understands how to
operate equipment safely. Staff have
been adequately trained in the
administration of Oxygen and use,
storage, handling of cylinder. Oxygen is
appropriately stored within school site.
 Individual Care Plan (ICP) is in place and
agreed by all relevant parties e.g. health
trust, BOC, principal, Parents etc. ICP to
be moved forward and managed by
medical and clinical staff from Trust. It is
recommended that principal monitor ICP
on a regular basis.
Pupil, classroom assistant and teacher have been
trained and informed of the prescribed flow rate
and understand the importance of not adjusting
oxygen flow rate without seeking appropriate
Page 6
Hazard
Persons Exposed and
How
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by
Whom
Action by
When
Completed
clinical advice and assessment
Page 7