CHILDREN’S SERVICES HEALTH & SAFETY
CHILDREN’S SERVICES RISK ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE FORM
Musical Activities Risk Assessment
(replace with more accurate title of risk assessment if required)
This risk assessment should be used for all occasions when musical learning or music making is to take
place – including class music lessons, instrumental and vocal lessons, rehearsals, workshops and
concerts. For ease of use, there are sub-headings for risks that apply to all musical activities (noise,
moving and handling and other associated risks such as repairs, electrical issues, environment,
posture, sharing instruments, behaviour), and for those that apply specifically to musical activities taking
place beyond the normal school day or those involving external providers (vetting, lone working, public
events and off-site activities).
Location / Site
Insert location and site where activity taking place
Activity / Procedure
Insert name/type of activity or procedure being assessed
Assessment date
Insert date when assessment is being carried out
Assessment serial number
Insert local serial/identification number for future reference
Identify hazards
Record all hazards that could cause harm or injury – add
appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards
All music activities
Excessive exposure to noise
Moving or handling activities (e.g. carrying instruments/stands/moving pianos)
Slips & Trips (from poor surfaces, trailing wires, incorrectly stored instruments)
Contact with poorly maintained or stored instruments (e.g rusty instruments, split nails or
pin heads on tambourines, broken keyboards with exposed plastic edges and electrical
contacts, instruments placed in entrances to rooms or in corridors)
Electrical shocks from poorly maintained or untested equipment
Poor lighting or environmental conditions
Poor safe playing procedures e.g. poor posture, insufficient working space
Respiratory disease/infection from sharing of instruments
Poor behaviour (especially when pupils are working away from direct supervision of the
teacher)
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Music activities beyond the normal school day or involving external providers
Pupils are at risk from adults who have not been appropriately vetted
Staff are at risk as lone workers
Disturbances and / or first aid risks at public events
Various risks associated with off-site activities (concerts, tours, residential visits)
Identify people at risk
Circle boxes where persons may be affected by hazards
Employees
YES
NO
Visitors
YES
NO
Contractors
YES
NO
Vulnerable persons
YES
NO
Pupils
YES
NO
Existing level of risk
HIGH
Control measures
Consider current level of risk
MEDIUM
LOW
NEGLIGIBLE
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add
appropriate detail about the type and location of controls
All music activities
Noise
Audiometric testing and health surveillance of all teaching staff is carried out as required
Sound levels of different musical activities are checked for legal compliance
Further guidance from Hampshire County Council’s Children’s Services Health & Safety
Team’s document HMS Noise Report Jan 09 has been noted and implemented where
necessary
Further guidance on statutory requirements as provided by Health & Safety Executive
www.hse.gov.uk/noise has been noted and implemented where necessary
Where personal protective equipment (PPE) is issued to pupils (eg. with groups working on
a percussion project such as Samba) these are never shared between pupils because of
the risk of infection. When issued, PPE is named, boxed and kept in school (pupils are
instructed not to take them home).
Where personal protective equipment (PPE) is issued to teachers it must be looked after
and used in accordance to any instructions issued.
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Pupils do not make loud sounds near to anyone’s ear. Teachers do not expose pupils to
excessively loud sounds and recognise and manage their own extended exposure to sound
during the working day.
Pupils are trained to test the volume of headphones before putting them on. Sound levels
are monitored and length of time using headphones is limited.
Where possible use noise control devices to muffle or mute sound during extensive,
repetitive practice (ie practice drum pads, brass mutes).
Pupils are taught about potentially dangerous sound levels of music, and the permanent
damage to hearing which can occur as a result of long term exposure to excessive sound.
Moving and handling
Completion by teachers of HCC e- learning course
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/learningzone/elearningzone/hlc-elearningmovingandhandling.htm
Pupils involved in setting up and setting down equipment or other resources (ie tables,
chairs and stands) are fully instructed and supervised in the correct procedures to follow
Shelving is used only in situations where pupils and / or staff can readily place or retrieve
instruments, i.e. heavy items are not stored above head height
Guidance on instrument storage and access as provided by RIBA in Music accommodation
in secondary schools: a design guide is followed as appropriate
Upright pianos are fitted with double-wheeled or Homa single-wheel castors, with a rear toe
for added stability (pianos sold as a school model are built to a higher safety specification
and should include these features). Pianos without a rear toe are kept against a wall and
are only moved by specialist contractors.
Upright pianos are only held or moved from the two ends, and never pushed or pulled from
the keyboard side or back. Suitable footwear is worn.
Grand piano legs are securely braced or mounted in a triangular frame. Three people are
used to move a grand piano, each one standing by a leg. The legs and fittings are checked
before moving. Suitable footwear is worn.
No pupil is required to move a piano (Key Stage 4 pupils who have the necessary physical
strength may voluntarily assist if properly instructed and supervised)
Neither pupils nor staff are involved in moving a piano from one level to another, for
example onto a stage, or up or down steps. Specialist contractors are used for this.
A safety check on pianos is made every year at the time of tuning.
All instrument storage areas allow free and easy access in designated, labelled spaces
clear from doors
Tidy and accessible storage places and routines for storing all equipment are established
(low level storage is safer and more accessible for pupils).
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Instruments that children bring to school are stored so that they do not create a hazard
when left on the floor.
No trailing cables/obstructions in locations likely to cause trip
Clear instructions are given to pupils from the outset regarding the handling and storage of
instrument cases and music stands. The set routine is reinforced frequently.
All instruments stored appropriately (e.g. tailor-made trolleys) so that potential dangers are
readily visible
Other associated risks:
repairs, electrical issues, environment, posture, sharing instruments, behaviour
Regular monitoring of state of repair for all instruments, with repair / replacement system in
place: damaged instruments removed from the area used by children, then repaired or
discarded
All instruments stored appropriately (eg. tailor-made trolleys) so that potential dangers are
readily visible
Portable electrical equipment is tested regularly by a person competent in the use of test
equipment and interpretation of results. Tested equipment is labelled.
Frequent visual checks are carried out on the condition of plugs and leads, and defective
equipment is taken out of use immediately and labelled accordingly. Pupils are encouraged
to carry out additional visual checks each time they use electrical equipment.
Correct keyboard adapters are used (and tested)
Music room circuits are permanently protected by installation of residual circuit devices
(RCDs) at the fuse board. Where these are not fitted, plug in RCDs are used at the socket.
Food and drink is not allowed in teaching areas where electrical equipment is being used.
Adequate room lighting is provided (eg. daylight supplemented by artificial light)
Adjustable blinds or solar film are used to reduce glare & reflection & discomfort
Hearing and ventilation is appropriate
Each pupil is provided with sufficient physical space to play their instrument(s) without
danger to their own or others’ health (NB noise; being struck by instrument)
Pupils are taught good habits, to avoid potentially damaging contortions and tensions.
String, wind and brass players in particular are taught how to adopt good posture, and hold
the instrument correctly, whether they are sitting or standing. Teachers are aware of the
bad habits which beginner pupils can develop when playing in lengthy sessions. An upright,
but relaxed posture is essential for singing to avoid any restrictions of the diaphragm.
Keyboard instruments are normally played at elbow level.
Short stretch breaks are taken during lengthy rehearsal and practice sessions
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Instrumental music is placed on music stands so that pupils can read music from a
comfortable position, without straining or twisting the body, and in particular the neck.
Staff have referred to HMS guidance on blown instruments, vocal/singing and percussion
Blown instruments have clear markings on the case for identity purposes.
Adequate supervision of pupils is maintained (eg. including appropriate child/adult ratios,
and systems for monitoring pupils who are working in groups beyond the main classroom)
Music activities beyond the normal school day or involving external providers
Vetting and lone working
Adults supervising or working independently with children have CRB up to date clearance
Teachers working with pupils are registered with GTC (including part-time and unqualified
teachers who may be teaching instrumental and / or vocal lessons)
Staff have accessed Hampshire CC Lone working guidance (this link will only work when
accessed from a computer on the HCC network) and attended training where appropriate
Public events and off-site activities
Organisers of concerts, festivals, workshops etc which involve public performance have
used HMS guidance on the organisation of festivals, with managerial oversight. They have
also referred to RATF-047A After School On-Site Activities (School Managed) Risk
Assessment
Organisers of concerts, festivals, workshops etc which involve public performance have
consulted with on-site staff regarding local health and safety procedures.
Staff have followed HCC Education Department Off-site activities Regulations and
Guidance notes
Staff have consulted HCC Outdoor Education, PE and Sport Service web site for general
guidance
Staff have completed relevant HCC Application for approval and Off-site activities and
educational visits risk assessment forms
Staff have followed all guidance and requirements of own employing establishment (school,
music service, etc).
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Remaining level of risk
HIGH
Consider level of risk following use of control measures
MEDIUM
LOW
NEGLIGIBLE
Assessor’s comments
Insert comments relevant to findings as appropriate
Name of assessor
Signature of assessor
Manager’s comments
Insert comments relevant to assessment as appropriate
Name of manager
Signature of manager
Risk assessment reviews
Set future review dates & sign/comment upon completion
Review date
Reviewed by
Musical Activities Risk Assessment template Nov 2010
Date
Date
Reviewer signature
Remarks
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