QMSU Annual Risk Assessment
What is an Annual Risk Assessment?
An Annual Risk Assessment is a risk assessment done once a year that covers all regular Volunteering Groups
activity during that year period. It is designed to cover small scale activity that your group undertakes, larger-scale
events and activities will need to be risk assessed separately and in more detail depending on the type of event.
How to fill out the Annual Risk Assessment
Like the normal Risk Assessment, the Annual Risk Assessment has the same sections requiring the same
inputs. However the main difference of this assessment is that the hazards should be more general. It is there to cover
all general activity that you undertake.
We have produced a template Annual Risk Assessment for you to use, this contains a wide selection of hazards
that the majority of Volunteering Groups will encounter through the year. If your group does more activities with
additional hazards, or the hazards are slightly different to the ones listed, you must add these or make the necessary
changes. To complete the template, you must input the Risk Rating and decide whether there are any additional control
measures needed.
Here are the sections highlighted that need completing before submitting the Annual Risk Assessment;
Information
Add your Volunteering Group name and the name of
the individual completing the assessment.
Also include the type of event (this can be ‘All’) and
the location (state if your activities are ‘On-Campus’,
‘Off-Campus’ or both).
Risk Rating
These are inputted as ? so that you can
change them to the actual rating!
Control Measures
If you feel the need to lower the Risk
Rating, add further Control Measures
here
Once submitted, you must follow the measures listed in the Assessment!
If your activity is different or not covered by the activities listed in your Annual Risk
Assessment, you must create a separate Risk Assessment.
QMSU Annual Risk Assessment
Name of Event;
Annual Risk
Assessment
Assessed By:
Managers Signature:
[Name of
Assessor]
[Managers Signature]
Type & Location of
Event;
Description of Event;
[Type]
All regular Volunteering Group activity
[Location]
Describe the hazard
Who might be harmed
and how?
Volunteers could be injured if they
trip or slip.
Slips and Trips
Volunteers risk injury or back strain
from lifting equipment.
Manual Handling
If trapped, Volunteers could suffer
fatal injuries from smoke
inhalation/burns.
Fire
Risk Matrix – High – Medium – Low (Risk)
Severity x Likelihood =
Risk Rating
Severity
Date of Event:
Volunteering Group:
August 2014 – July [Name of Vol
2015
Group]
Existing control measures
 No trailing leads or cables – taped
down/routed away from thoroughfare where
possible.
 All areas as well lit as possible; conduct
activities in well-lit areas.
 Keep areas clean and tidy whilst conducting
activities.
 Make known and clear up any spills as soon as
possible.
 Use a trolley or ensure large objects have
wheels.
 Make sure that event set up/clear down is to
be conducted by at least two people.
 If large amounts of manual handling are to be
regularly undertaken, relevant persons attend
manual handling course.
 Don’t place heavy objects on high
shelves/ladder work platforms.
 Always follow relevant building’s fire risk
assessment.
 If members are new to a place, Organisers to
make them aware of the emergency routes
and muster points.
 Be vigilant as to sources of fire; not use any
candles/naked flames whatsoever.
 Ensure that activities are conducted in venues
which comply with all legislation and
regulations regarding fire safety.
Death (5)
Major Injury (4)
Over 7 day Injury (3)
Minor Injury –
Treatment off site (2)
Minor Injury – First aid
on site (1)
Risk Rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
All completed forms must be signed off by the Community and Volunteering Team
No activity should take place without an authorised form.
Likelihood
Certain
(5)
Very
Likely
(4)
Likely
(3)
25
20
15
20
16
12
15
12
9
10
8
5
4
Additional control
measures
May
happen
(2)
10
8
Unlikely
(1)
5
4
6
3
6
4
2
3
2
1
Revised rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR
QMSU Annual Risk Assessment
Describe the hazard
Who might be harmed
and how?
Volunteers could suffer illness or
injury whilst alone on an activity.
Lone Activity
Theft/Theft with assault.
Selling Tickets/Cash
Handling/Fundraising
Volunteers/Customers could be
made ill from badly prepared food.
Sale of Food/Food Service
Existing control measures
 No volunteer should ever work alone when
setting up or clearing down an activity.
Volunteers should not be asked to complete
activities when alone (or out of ear or eyeshot
of the rest of the group).
 Volunteers running errands alone should
make it known to another Volunteer where
they are going and how long the task should
take. Where appropriate, mobile phone
details should be exchanged.
 Always sell tickets/handle
cash/collect/transport in pairs.
 If collecting for charity, use buckets/tins with
security seals.
 If handling any cash at street level then take
care to distribute cash away from the pointof-sale/collection and regularly pay surplus
cash in to the Reception
 Aim to reduce the amount of cash being
handed over by using approved methods
 Ideally, this should only be done on campus
or within a QMSU venue with staff
knowledge.
 For one off sales, pre-packaged wholesale
products should be sold.
 External and food safety certified
caterers/QMSU or University catering services
should be used for the service of meals.
 Ideally food prepared in students’ homes
should not be served or sold, unless the cook
has achieved a basic food hygiene certificate.
 Any food prepared by a student must be
clearly labelled as ‘home-made’ and with the
potential for contamination of allergens
Risk Rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
All completed forms must be signed off by the Community and Volunteering Team
No activity should take place without an authorised form.
Additional control
measures
Revised rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR
QMSU Annual Risk Assessment
Describe the hazard
Who might be harmed
and how?
All. The weather could cause
dehydration or hypothermia
Volunteering Activity
All. Participants could sustain an
injury from the Volunteering Activity
All. Faulty equipment could cause
harm
All. Risk of becoming lost,
encountering other people and
being a victim of crime
Late Night/Early Morning Activity
Existing control measures
 Check weather forecasts in advance to advise
volunteers to bring layers, warm clothing,
waterproof shoes etc beforehand.
 Check the weather report on the day before
embarking on any outdoor volunteering
activity.
 On the day, ensure volunteers have suitable
clothing for the activity.
 Provide sun-cream where appropriate.
 Ensure volunteers take plenty of breaks
through the day to shelter from wet weather
or from strong sunshine.
 Ensure a full briefing is given to all volunteers
before the volunteering begins, letting them
know about how to safely use equipment.
 Ensure volunteers know how to access first
aid and what to do in a medical emergency.
 Provide suitable equipment and clothing.
 Full evaluate what equipment is needed for
the activity
 Ensure all equipment is in good working order
 Ensure all volunteers are given the correct
equipment and that it is suitable for their size
 Ensure that all activity that starts or finishes
late at night or early morning is well
advertised of starting/finishing times before
the event
 Organisers should ensure that there are
appropriate travel options for volunteers
once the activity has finished, this could be a
licensed taxi firm, local bus routes, etc
 Organisers should ensure, where possible, no
volunteer is allowed to leave on their own.
Encourage groups of at least 2 people to be
formed.
 When in a group, ensure that organisers keep
a count of numbers and encourage people to
stay together.
Risk Rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
All completed forms must be signed off by the Community and Volunteering Team
No activity should take place without an authorised form.
Additional control
measures
Revised rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR
QMSU Annual Risk Assessment
Describe the hazard
Who might be harmed
and how?
Members could get shocks/burns
from faulty equipment. Faulty
electrics can also lead to fires.
Electrical
Existing control measures
 A visual inspection of equipment/electrical
items before each use
 All Supplied Equipment to be PAT tested
annually.
 Volunteers advised not to bring in their own
electrical unless absolutely necessary and
instead use equipment provided.
 Equipment brought in should be double
insulated.
 All organisers be vigilant as to faulty looking
equipment/plugs.
 Defective equipment taken out of use and
replaced immediately.
 No repairs should be made to equipment to
make use of it, except by qualified persons
 The environment should be taken into
account when planning an event to ensure all
equipment is away from factors that could
elevate risk
Risk Rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR
?
?
?
All completed forms must be signed off by the Community and Volunteering Team
No activity should take place without an authorised form.
Additional control
measures
Revised rating
Likeliness x
Severity = RR
L
S
RR