RISK ASSESSMENT
School
Activity
Assessment completed by:
Name:
Hazard
Playground
equipment
Date:
Persons
Exposed and
How
Pupils
Current Controls

Injury due to fault


Falls from climbing
apparatus
Pupils

Major injury




Review Date:
Playgrounds
Signature:
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by When
Completed
Regular checks for defects and reporting of
these. Defective equipment is taken out of
use
Annual maintenance agreement in place and
repairs undertaken where necessary
Equipment is purchased from a reputable
supplier
Restrict and control numbers on apparatus at
one time (specify the maximum number of
pupils)
Ensure that the equipment is appropriate for
the age of the pupils using it. (may be
necessary to identify an age or height
restriction)
Consider segregating age groups
Supervision of use required at all times
Apparatus not to be used when wet and
slippery
Page 1
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Current Controls



Play items (e.g.
Skipping ropes,
footballs etc)
Pupils

Injury

Outdoor sand pit
Pupils

Contaminated sand
Infection
Injuries arising
from collision
Strains
Sprains
Back injuries


Contact with
container or
surround of sand
pit structure
Manual handling of
sand






Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by When
Completed
Clear rules about appropriate behaviour (for
example not to hang upside down from
monkey bars)
Children to wear appropriate footwear
Ensure that impact absorbing surfaces are
present where there is a significant risk of a
fall. The depth of any loose fill material is
maintained by daily raking and “topping up” as
necessary
Ensure items are used only for their intended
purpose.
Games to be played in appropriate area e.g.
for ball games / wheeled toys.
Sand is changed periodically or when known to
be contaminated
Only washed sand is used for this activity
Containers for sand are cleaned with a suitable
mild disinfectant
The sand pit is covered when not in use
Staff undertake a visual inspection of the sand
for any signs of contamination prior to use
The pupils are encouraged to wash their hands
after playing in this area
Pupils are supervised when using the sand pit
The number of children using the sand pit at
any time is restricted
Deliveries of sand arranged to minimise
manual handling. Suitable equipment such as
a sack trolley or wheel barrow is available
Page 2
Hazard
Bullying
Persons
Exposed and
How
Pupils
Stress, physical
injury
Fighting
Pupils
Supervisors
Current Controls





Rough games
Security
Unsupervised
contact with
adults, child
protection issues
Injury
Pupils
Injury
Pupils
Abduction,
assault








Absconding /
children leaving
Pupils

Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by When
Completed
School should have an anti-bullying policy
Adult supervisors should be familiar with the
policy
Training for supervisors in identification and
prevention of bullying
Supervisors aware of school rules on
appropriate behaviour
Supervisors trained in how to deal with this
type of situation
Prohibit inappropriate games from the school
Maintained, un-breached fencing (no holes or
gaps)
Points of access minimised with clearly signed
routes to reception
Where possible provide alternative routes for
visitors bypassing playing areas.
Gates closed / secured at break times
Avoid children playing in areas out of sight of
supervisors
Areas of site identified as higher risk made
“out of bounds” (Identify on a plan)
Supervision levels appropriate for the layout of
the site and the play areas, especially in the
vicinity of the gates and where there are
public footpaths through the school grounds.
(Identify on a plan)
Parental consent obtained for children who
need to go home for lunch
See also security risk
assessment
If there are blind
spots is there any
Page 3
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
way that the
situation can be
improved? For
example reducing the
height of hedges, etc.
the school grounds
unobserved
Traffic accident
Abduction

Identify any blind spots due to walls, trees,
bushes, play equipment, etc.
Steps and steep
slopes
Pupils
Slips, trips, falls



Games not to be played on steps
Ensure these areas are gritted in the winter
No running
Pupils

Adequate numbers of supervision to account
for emergency situations (Identify the number
of staff and the number of pupils they will be
expected to supervise)
First aid kits located close by in school
buildings
Trained first aiders present on the site and
available during lunch and break times
Supervisors who do not have first aid training
are aware of the action they should take in the
event of an injury and what not to do
Inspection of the area by a member of staff
before use by pupils and litter pick as required
Inadequate
response to
accidents
More serious
injury



Litter, glass
Pupils

Used Needles
Injuries, cuts
Pupils
Staff

Inspection of the area and litter pick (identify
measures for preventing needle stick injuries)
Dog faeces
HIV, Hepatitis B
Pupils
Staff

Where possible prevent dog walking within
the school grounds.
Action by Whom
Action by When
Completed
What would be the
arrangements should
a member of staff
report sick
Page 4
Hazard
Trees, poisonous
or thorny plants
Hard Surfaces
Strong sunlight
Persons
Exposed and
How
infection,
Toxicariasis
Pupils
Current Controls



Pupils
Staff

Slips, trips, falls

Pupils
Staff
Sunburn
Heat exhaustion






Snow and ice on
playground
Collisions involving
people or buildings
Pupils
Slips
Trips
Falls
Pupils




Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by When
Completed
Provide signage at school entrance points
Provide equipment so that faeces can be
removed safely
Grounds maintenance contract in place
Ensure that the play areas are even and
maintained. Defects reported to the person
responsible
Area periodically checked for missing drain
covers, uneven surfaces, etc.
Any areas which
become unsuitable
will need to be coned
off and placed out of
bounds until repairs
can be undertaken.
Trees planted
Shade supplied
Outside activities planned before 11.00 and
after 3.00
Pupils encouraged to wear wide brimmed
hats
Pupils encouraged to wear tops that cover
shoulders
Pupils allowed to wear UV protective
sunglasses
Staff wear suitable hats and tops
The Principal to make decision before break
or lunchtime as to whether pupils are allowed
out outside
Gritting policy in place
Play is appropriately supervised taking into
account the age of pupils and the condition
Page 5
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Injuries arising
from collisions
Current Controls




Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by When
Completed
and layout of the play area
All areas are clearly visible for supervision
purposes
Children are kept away from buildings by
supervisors
Spaces nominated as safe for running and
energetic activities are free from obstructions
Inappropriate behaviour is banned
Page 6