Activity Risk Assessment – Grass Cutting and Strimming
Assessment Details
Org Unit
Insert your school name
Assessor Name
Reference
SCH/CCC/RA013
Assessment Team Members
Is This Confidential
Yes/No
Assessment Date
00/00/2015
Approved For Portal
Yes/ No
Activity Description
Grass Cutting and Strimming
Date for Review
00/00/2015
Number Of People Exposed
Description
Grass Cutting and Strimming
People Exposed
Location
Please Add
Is This An Acceptable Risk? Yes/ No
Hazard Category
Hazard Phrases
Persons At Risk
Grass Cutting and Physical injuries
Operators
Strimming
caused by: manual Those in the
(Schools)
handling;
vicinity
machinery; site
conditions;
defective
equipment/lack of
maintenance;
slips, trips and
falls; hygiene
hazards;
contamination;
infection; fire;
electrocution;
entrapment;
entanglement;
flying objects
How Is Person At Risk
Describe how people are
at risk
Control Measures
Please populate with your
current control measures
(see additional control
measures for suggested
controls, this list is not
exhaustive)
Potential Risk
Factor
PLEASE ENTER
Please Add
Additional Control
Measures
Residual Risk
Factor
High – Red
Medium – Yellow
Low - Green
Adequate records are kept of High – Red
maintenance and inspection Medium – Yellow
schedules.
Low - Green
To colour a cell
right click in the
cell and choose
borders and
shading. In the
‘fill box’ select
the colour and in
the ‘apply to’ box
select cell.
All fuel caps are kept
securely in place except
during the refuelling
operation.
Appropriate personal
protective equipment is
provided, including: face
mask/goggles; ear defenders;
protective footwear; gloves;
non-snag outer clothing.
Areas are checked prior to
mowing, and any
obstructions and stones are
cleared away as far as is
reasonable.
Care is taken whilst loading
and unloading machines.
Cut grass is cleared away
quickly and removed in
manageable loads or by way
of a barrow.
Defective equipment is never
used.
Action Details
Activity Risk Assessment – Grass Cutting and Strimming
Faults are reported
immediately and recorded in
the school's defect reporting
book.
Filling the fuel tank is done
with care, observing the
following: add fuel before
starting the engine; if
possible select a site shaded
from direct sunlight; no fire or
smoking within 20m; not
inside a building or on board
a vehicle.
Machines are inspected and
maintained at established
intervals in accordance with
the manufacturer's
instructions.
Mowing is suspended while
pupils or other persons are in
the vicinity of the machine.
Other staff are to keep well
clear when machines are in
operation.
Personal hygiene is
particularly important where
there is a risk from a hygiene
hazard.
Personnel are alert to
miscellaneous objects or any
materials that may result in
flying objects if hit by the
strimmer.
Personnel are trained and
fully competent in the use of
the machinery and equipment
used.
Personnel do NOT: leave the
mower unattended with the
engine running; fit wire or any
other material to brushwood
cutters as a substitute for the
correct nylon string.
Personnel do NOT: start work
with damaged cutters/belts;
cut too close to stony ground;
lift front end of rotary mowers
Activity Risk Assessment – Grass Cutting and Strimming
with the cutters rotating when
near others; continue working
when solid objects are struck.
Personnel ensure that all
machine guards are
undamaged and correctly
fitted before starting the
machine.
Personnel ensure that the
motor is stopped, ignition off
and isolated from the main
power supply before looking
at the underside of any
working part.
Personnel wear adequate
personal protective
equipment, e.g. safety boots
(and high visibility clothing if
the work is close to the
highway) to BS 6629.
Pre-use checks are carried
out which include a visual
check of the work area to
identify hazards, e.g. objects
in grass.
Vehicles carrying portable
fuel containers and the
containers themselves are
marked in accordance with
relevant legislation.
When mowing adjacent to
footways, the operator is
accompanied to prevent
pedestrian accidents
Assessment Conclusion
This risk assessment will be reviewed following any accidents or incidents resulting from the risks it is designed to protect against.