WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL RISK ASSESSMENT – March 2017
Situation
Potential Hazard
Being hit by a
basketball
Danger of being hit
and injured by a
basketball; to
Participants,
Coaches, Members
of Staff,
Parents/Carers,
Referees
3
3
Risk
Factor
9
Danger that
participants are
unable to stop in
time or unable to
control their
wheelchair,
causing the
injuries
1
4
4
Hitting walls in a
wheelchair
Likelihood
Impact
Measures to Take
Players are informed of danger
and are asked to be aware of
others while in the playing area
If more than one ball being used
coaches need to make sure that
players are safe if they feel it is
becoming dangerous to stop the
activity
Players are unable to get a ball
while the session is being set up
to stop players using the balls
without a coaches supervision
During a session if a player is hit
by the ball the coach makes sure
they are ok and deal with any
injuries that may have occurred
Record any injuries in the
accident book
Players need to make sure they
are in plenty of space and are in
control of chair
Coaches need to make sure the
space they are in is adequate
Coaches need to make sure all
players have control of their
chairs and if not make sure they
give extra training to improve this
1
Implementing Measures
Advice given when Participants,
Coaches, Members of Staff,
Parents/Carers join section.
Advice given when Participants,
Coaches, Members of Staff and
volunteers join the section.
Chair control sessions given to new
members upon join the section.
Situation
Tipping chair
Potential Hazard
Likelihood
Danger of injury
to Participant
3
Impact
4
Risk
Factor
13
Measures to Take
Implementing Measures
This is an accepted risk and it is
acknowledged that it does happen
regularly during the sport
Participants are advised of the
risks and are made aware that
this can occur when playing
wheelchair basketball. They need
to be taught how to fall properly
and safety points are taught
during sessions
If players are seen acting in a
dangerous manner during the
session or fail to strap themselves
in, they should be asked to leave
Coaches need to be aware of this
danger and make sure if it occurs
that the player is not in danger
and is helped back into the chair.
If they are seen to be in danger
then the game is stopped until the
player is back in the chair
Other players to protect area
around player on the floor.
If an injury occurs to a player
when they fall out it is recorded in
the accident book
Advice given when participants join
section, and taught how to fall correctly
to avoid injury and how to strap in.
2
Ensure coaches/volunteer are given
advice when joining the section, and
advised on the most appropriate
method to aid players back into their
chair.
Situation
Potential Hazard
Likelihood
Being hit by a
chair
Members of staff,
Coaches,
Parents/Carers
and referees
injured by
wheelchair.
3
Impact
2
Risk
Factor
6
Balls or foreign
objects on court
Danger of slip,
trips, falls and
collisions to,
participants,
coaches and
volunteers
1
3
3
Child Protection
issues
Young People
Staff & Volunteers
Parents
Members of the
Public
Visitors
Strangers Talking
to / Taking
Photographs of
Participants
Abduction and
Abuse
Young people
getting lost on site
1
4
4
Measures to Take
Implementing Measures
All spectators are aware of what
is going on during a game and
that they are sitting down away
from the court at all times
Any children within the hall are
kept under close supervision and
that they remain seated during
the session
Coaches and members of staff
are all informed of the dangers of
this and are sensible at all times
and aware of what is going on
during a session
Coaches need to make sure the
participants are in control of their
chairs and if they are not make
sure they are either taught
separately or given extra help
before they fully participate
Any balls that are not being used
for an activity are put back into
bag or well away from the court
Anything that may fall onto court
is quickly removed and any
activities which it could affect are
stopped while it is done
Section leader, coaches and all
volunteers to hold current DBS
certificate.
Agreements with parents and
participants if photos are going to
be taken.
Staff to be vigilant at all times.
Young people to be supervised
by staff at all times.
Members of staff are informed to
report any incidents straight
away.
Anyone who is not recognised will
be approached by staff.
Dedicated spectator area, and notices
making spectators aware of activity
and dangers.
3
Advice given when Coaches,
Members of Staff and volunteers join
the section.
Chair control sessions given to new
members upon join the section.
Area is checked before the session
begins and monitored throughout
Club policy that all Section Leaders,
coaches and volunteers must hold
current DBS certificates.
Club policy that each section appoints
and train a child protection officer.
Potential Hazard
Likelihood
Chair becomes
inoperable
Participants
injured due to
broken chairs
2
3
Risk
Factor
6
Fingers
damaged from
wheel spokes
Fingers trapped in
the wheelchair
spokes whilst
pushing the chairs
2
3
6
Basketball Wheelchair users
instructed how to safely push the
chairs when starting the sport.
Loading/
Unloading of
chairs from
trailer
Unsecured chairs
moving around in
the trailer during
transit and falling
out when trailer
opened.
1
3
3
Chairs loaded into the trailer and
secured to reduce movement
during transit.
Coaches check chair before each
session
Players and volunteers taught how to
check chairs
Coaches to instruct players on how to
push chairs safely when starting out,
established players to be reminded.
Also, players may like to wear suitable
gloves if preferred.
Individuals who open the trailer are
warned and reminded that items may
have moved during transit.
Able coaches and volunteers to
load and unload.
Individuals informed of the safe way to
move and lift chairs
Injuring oneself
when lifting
wheelchairs
Sport chairs have
no brakes
therefore players
could be injured
by moving chairs
Participants are
injured due to not
following the
health and safety
rules
1
3
3
2
3
6
Able-bodied player/helpers to hold
and secure chairs during transfer
of players. Players Advised of
safest method of transfer.
New players advised on the safest way
to transfer to and from the sports
wheelchair
1
3
3
Players and helpers informed of
health and safety rules when
joining. Coaches and volunteers
to remind players when
appropriate.
Coaches inform players/helpers when
joining the team.
Situation
Transfer from
day chair to
sports chair
Injury due to
lack of
adherence to
health and
safety rules.
Eg. Sandles,
feet too far
forward,
wearing
necklace,
insufficient
strapping in.
Impact
Measures to Take
Chairs regularly checked.
Broken chairs removed from use.
4
Implementing Measures
Information also written in welcome
pack.
Key:
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Likelihood
Impact
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
Risk Factor
(Likelihood * Impact)
1-3
4-7
8-11
12-16
Wheelchair Basketball Sports Leader: Nick Gibbs
5