Risk assessment for visits to Rylands Farm FARM/SITE NAME: Rylands Farm OS GRID REFERENCE: ST6510 FARMER:Julie Plumley TEL. NO. 01963 210703 DATE RISK ASSESSMENT PREPARED:1/04/13 DATE RISK ASSESSMENT LAST UPDATED:1/02/14 NEAREST HOSPITAL:Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT TEL; 01935 475122 Please Note all Future Roots staff are First Aid trained SITE ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES:Main Farm Gate ALL PERSONS ARE INSTRUCTED AS TO THE LIKELY HAZARDS OF FARM-­‐RELATED ACTIVITIES WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE ON SITE. SPECIFIC RISK ASSESSMENTS SHOULD BE MADE FOR GROUPS/ACTIVITIES WHERE NECESSARY. ACTIVITIES AT RYLANDS FARM ACTIVITY HAZARDS PERSONS AT RISK Busy delivery, drop off and collection area. Dropping Persons straying into off/collecting Children and young road, injury from other with coach, people, visitors and staff vehicles Mini Bus or Taxi Crossing public roads/tracks Injury from slipping and falling; wet ground, Cuts, Abrasions. Contamination – micro-­‐
organisms (see below -­‐ Animals) handling/ ingesting poisons and/or chemicals Potholes/ animal burrows Out and about on the farm Electric fences / Electric shock Injury from barbed wire Falling into ditches, streams, ponds & Water courses. Drowning / Weils Disease RISK LEVEL (High, Medium, Low) Medium Low Medium Medium Children and young people, visitors and staff High Medium High ACTION -­‐ RISK REDUCTION MEASURES POST-­‐
ACTION RISK LEVEL Visiting vehicles must park in car park at all times. Individuals or groups to stay with vehicle until instructed. Low Public roads do not cross Rylands Farm Low Children and visiting teachers to wear suitable clothing and footwear. FR and visiting staff to maintain discipline at all times. Walking routes selected fit for purpose, e.g. maintained footpaths & farm tracks. Discourage persons from touching fences, gates and animals unless supervised and remove all known chemicals/poisons from route/reach. Low Point out areas where they occur during the walk Clear and well maintained signs to all electric fencing. Isolation of electric fence prior to visit which requires access to the same area / field unless the group is working with Future Roots session mentor as part of the session objectives. All boundaries crossed using gates; gates to be maintained on a regular basis. A stream flows through the bottom fields and large pond in the first field adjacent the farm entrance. Pond & river are fenced off but no access to these areas without staff member present and only under instruction. Ensure fencing is maintained. Low Low Low Low ACTIVITY HAZARDS PERSONS AT RISK Infection-­‐ bacterial contamination; Out and about on the farm contd…. Flora & Fauna – Ingestion & Poison RISK LEVEL (High, Medium, Low) Medium Children and young people, visitors and staff. High Stings from insects Medium Chemical contact Medium Getting lost Medium Injury from working farm machinery High Injury from stationary farm machinery Medium Farm Operations Utility Companies service across the land Children and young people, visitors and staff. Injury from unstable buildings/unsecured large doors/gates/ladders Medium Injury from tools Medium Nearby cables and wires Children and young people, visitors and staff. Medium ACTION -­‐ RISK REDUCTION MEASURES Before the session commences determine whether anyone is pregnant or has a weakened immune system. Advise them that they are at a higher risk of infection and should maintain a greater level of awareness if they wish to continue the visit. Encourage hand washing, particularly before eating or drinking. At no time can food or drink be consumed or carried around the farm. After any activity everyone must wash their hands in the main facility building. Brief visiting parties; to the dangers of plants and touching them if they are poisons Anyone with any allergies or phobias must advise a member of staff, before starting the day’s session. Completed Future Roots referral forms must be submitted for checking. In the event of any incident please call the local hospital (details above) All chemicals are stored in vented locked storage cabinets; these must only be accessed by staff. Rylands Farm is a 30 acre site consisting of 3 large fields and the main entrance and facility are located at the centre. The facility can be viewed from all 3 fields. All groups must stay within hearing distance of staff. No person is to enter any fields, animal pens or yards especially if machinery is in use, without staff present and only under instruction. No stationary machinery is to be touched or climbed at any time; all machinery is secured in areas excluded from visiting parties. Access only at specific times under the supervision of staff. No farm buildings are to be entered, hay bales or fences / gates climbed at any time except under supervision of staff. Tools are secured in areas excluded from visiting parties and accessed and used only under specific supervision of staff. A 450mm high pressure gas main is located along perimeter (roadside) hedge, marked with white posts with orange tops. No digging or ground penetrating activity in this area deeper than 450mm. No activity involving kites, balloons, or long poles in the area around the POST-­‐
ACTION RISK LEVEL Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Children and young people, visitors and staff. Young children, the Manure & Contamination – E Coli elderly and pregnant Compost Heaps 0157 women and those with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable. ACTIVITY HAZARDS PERSONS AT RISK Cattle, Calves & Bulls, touching and feeding – diseases associated but not inclusive Cryptosoridiosis (Faeces); E Coli 0157; Brucellosis; Q Fever (Urine & Faeces); Tuberculosis; also Crushed & Trampled Sheep (Touching & feeding) -­‐ Chlamydia Psittaci (Afterbirth); E Coli 0157; Orf – Lesions; also Bitten, Children and young knocked over and people, visitors and staff. trampled Pigs (Touching & feeding) – Ringworm – Spores; also Bitten, knocked over and Animal contact trampled Poultry (Touching & Young children, the feeding) -­‐ Chlamydia elderly and pregnant Psittaci; E Coli 0157; women and those with Psittacosis (Dust from weakened immune Faeces); Pecked & systems are more Scratched. vulnerable. Goats (Touching & feeding) -­‐ Chlamydiosis (Afterbirth); E Coli 0157; Orf – Lesions; also Bitten & butted Donkeys (Touching & feeding) – Bitten, Kicked & Knocked over. Pets – Dogs & Cats (Touching & feeding) – Bitten; scratched & Toxoplasmosis. Crushing, trampling butting, biting Weather Conditions (Depending on time of Children and young year) people, visitors and staff. High RISK LEVEL (High, Medium, Low) High Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium overhead electric pylons. Restrict access and maintain supervision at all times. Ensure signs are clear and well maintained. ACTION -­‐ RISK REDUCTION MEASURES All animal contact under supervision of staff.. Visitors must be briefed about the direct risks of working with/handling livestock. This needs to include the following issues: • Entering fields, animal pens or yards without staff member present. • Steel toecaps must be worn for all farmyard activities with animals. • Boots to be washed after activities. • Animal pens should not be entered without direct supervision from staff. • Kissing, mouth contact…… • Fingers and hands must not be put through railings/fencing • Touching/handling livestock or fencing -­‐ supervise hand washing afterwards. • Explain to the participants that they cannot eat or drink without washing hands because of the risk of infection. • Wash hands & Wellington boots thoroughly before departure. Young people and/or vulnerable people must be made aware of the dangers from: • Being bitten, knocked or trodden on • Fingers & hands must not be put through the railings or pen fencing. • Walking behind an animal & the dangers of making any sudden or load sounds / movements which may startle or frighten animals. • Hand washing after all farmyard activities is essential Medium Medium Low POST-­‐
ACTION RISK LEVEL Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Before any daily session starts a review of the weather conditions to be assessed by Future Roots Session Mentor Low