Risk Assesment

[Dopey]

Hi There
New to this never been on a forum before. I am organising a sleepover for my lovely Beaver Scouts and obviously i need to risk assess the building and site we are going to i was advised recently that there is a form you can download on Scoutbase but i can't find it does anybody know where it is or if you already have a form that i can use that would be great.

Thanks for your help in advance

[Chris Shaw]

Hi There
New to this never been on a forum before. I am organising a sleepover for my lovely Beaver Scouts and obviously i need to risk assess the building and site we are going to i was advised recently that there is a form you can download on Scoutbase but i can't find it does anybody know where it is or if you already have a form that i can use that would be great.

Thanks for your help in advance

An example Risk Assesment form can be found on the rear of Factsheet 12000 - electronic copy of which can be found here:

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/...s/fs120000.pdf


Adapt as required.

Ticehurst Scout Group's website has some adjusted ones that may suit your needs more.

http://www.ticehurstscouts.co.uk/resources_forms.htm

[Dopey]

Thanks Chris i will check those out.

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The Following Was Added to the post within 60 minutes of posting the above
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They were great very helpful many thanks

[ph_zone]

Also might be worth having a look at the information on the HSE website,
designed for work situation but the key principles are the same,

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf

[Neil Williams]

Ticehurst Scout Group's website has some adjusted ones that may suit your needs more.

http://www.ticehurstscouts.co.uk/resources_forms.htm

Don't fall into the trap of copying and pasting, though. I just read through those, and some of those clearly have been copied from somewhere (no Leader actually thinks of Scouts as "pupils", for instance, nor does having a consequence "disability or death" for everything really show that it was thought through fully).

You're genuinely better off thinking it through even if you then don't write it down than blindly copying and pasting. Though in these litigious times there is little harm in writing it down as well and probably a benefit. But don't be drawn into the idea that it's just paperwork that has to be there - that's not how it should be looked at - it's an important thought process that just happens to have a formal way of being recorded that could come in handy in the event of an incident "turning nasty".

Neil

[Alfbranch]

I am with Neil on this copying someone elses RA is a bad idea but for instance if a RA exists for the building use that as a start point.
You need to RA the building/area against the age range and activities and do not do this alone is my advice several people are more likely to spot issues than one alone. including teh leadership team is a good way to ensure everyone knows what to expect. Also do not fall into the trap of producing a RA to cover all events as it will be useless.
I read a RA recently that included a sand pit but the campsite they were using did not have a sand pit.

Is this for a NAP application?
Who is the NAP for the event?

welcome to

[ianjames]

One of the better sites for information for beaver leaders in general is Stevenage scouts, they have blank risk assesment forms under general resources, it can be found at:- http://www.stevenagescouting.org.uk/

[Mark W]

I am with Neil on this copying someone elses RA is a bad idea

Indeed, if you look around there is at least one group with their RAs available online which could be used as classic examples of how not to do a risk assessment.
Far better to do your own assessment.

[Chris Lambert]

Far better to do your own assessment.

Although looking at what other people have already done in the same/similar circumstances can help in doing your own assessment.

[Mark W]

Although looking at what other people have already done in the same/similar circumstances can help in doing your own assessment.

Yes, agreed, especially if you've not done one before. But it needs to be relevant, so be critical and think "does this apply to my circumstances?".

[Alfbranch]

Yes, agreed, especially if you've not done one before. But it needs to be relevant, so be critical and think "does this apply to my circumstances?".

Which is just my point about the sandpit and animal faeces for a NA event on a campsite with no sandpit the group in question used one RA for all events

[Dopey]

Hi guys
Been really busy so not been on for a while thank you for all your help and advice.

[Richard T]

There's also some good advice on the Health and safety executive myths website http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/may.htm

[Alfbranch]

Richard thats one of my favourites sites they are great and this link is just right. Especially the following quote

On its own, paperwork never saved anyone. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself - action is what protects people. So risk assessments should be fit for purpose and acted upon.

The HSE also says

We believe that risk management should be about practical steps to protect people from real harm and suffering - not bureaucratic back covering. If you believe some of the stories you hear, health and safety is all about stopping any activity that might possibly lead to harm. This is not our vision of sensible health and safety - we want to save lives, not stop them. Our approach is to seek a balance between the unachievable aim of absolute safety and the kind of poor management of risk that damages lives and the economy

Also Lok at THIS one