FIELDWORK RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS
FOR FIELDWORK TAKING PLACE BOTH
IN THE UK AND ABROAD
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FIELDWORK RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Section 1: General Information about your fieldwork trip
SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT:
COLLEGE:
DATE OF ASSESSMENT:
CAMPUS
SIGNATURE
SIGNATURE OF
OF ASSESSOR:
SUPERVISOR:
PRINT NAME
PRINT NAME OF
OF ASSESSOR
SUPERVISOR
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR FIELDWORK TRIP:
Please describe in detail where you are going and what activities you plan to do whilst you are there?
ESTIMATED No OF
STAFF AT RISK:
ESTIMATED No OF
STUDENTS AT RISK:
Section 2: Location of your fieldwork trip
Exact Location of your field work
trip
Local / regional Area
UK based
Europe
Transatlantic
Current Home Office Security
Level in the area(s) you will be
visiting
(please use xxx to indicate current UK rating for securityxxxx
Section 3: the Hazards involved in the work you are planning
Thinking about the trip and the work you will be carrying out, please use the list below to identify all the
hazards you will / may encounter during your trip A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm.
You should focus on identifying all hazards that are reasonably foreseeable. You may like to consult with any
colleagues who have been on this trip before / use contacts in the destination area to assist you with this
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Identify the hazards from the list below
Climate: Storm/Rain:- Lightning, Snow/Sleet, Hypothermia, Snow blindness, Wind (blown over), wind chill, Mist/fog/low
cloud:- Getting lost, Sun/Heat:- UV exposure, Sunburn, High temperatures, Heat exhaustion, Heat Stroke, Low
temperatures:- Hypothermia / Frostbite.
Terrain/Location: Uplands:- Loose/falling rocks, Falls, Mudslides, Reduced oxygen, Lowlands (inc. below ground) :- Soft
ground, Roof fall, Radon, Floods, Oxygen deficient / Poisonous atmospheres, Tropics:- Heat exhaustion, Marine / Coastal:Currents, Riptides, Abnormal waves, Inland waters, lagoons:- Tides, Flotsam and Jetsam, Quicksand, Loose rocks, Flash
floods, Drowning, Sludge pits, Underwater obstacles, Unstable substrate Woodland:- Fire Getting lost Rocky areas:- Falls
Chippings, Rock falls, Urban:- Vehicles, Assault, Roads and Railways, Vehicles, Trains, Electricity.
Biological: Farm stock:- Bulls, Pigs, Dogs. Flora and fauna:- Poisonous/irritant plants, Fungi, Reptiles, Arthropods, Insects
(Bites & Stings), Microbiological:- Weil's Disease, Tetanus, Malaria, Cholera, Typhoid, Lyme Disease, Algal toxins:Escherichia (E) coli, Campylobacter, Food borne illness, Water-borne infection Wound infection.
Chemical: Water pollution, Dumps, Harmful chemicals, Toxic/flammable gases, wastes.
Mechanical: Machinery:- Plant Tools / equipment, Entanglement, trapping, crushing, ejected parts,
Electrical: Generators, Portable Electrical Equipment, Shock, Fire, Exposed circuits, Differing safety standards, old
equipment.
Human Activity: Farming:- Forestry Industrial Machinery, Agrochemicals, Vehicles, Felling, Static and mobile machinery,
Buildings, Vehicles, Large plant and machines at open cast sites and quarries, Excavations:- Mines, Quarries ("confined
spaces") Toxic gas, Drowning, Asphyxiation, Explosive gas mixes, Roof fall / collapse, Hidden shafts, Dead ends, Failure of
props/supports, Military Ammunition:- Explosion, Waste disposal, Hazardous materials.
Recreation: Hunting / Shooting, Firearms, Climbing, Rock-falls, Horse riding, Collision, Driving:- All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s)
/ Off-roaders, Collision, Skiing:- Avalanche. Water sports:- Surfing, Swimming, Body boarding, Jet Skiing, Diving.
Work Procedures: Boats:- Sinking, Swamping, blown out to sea, Diving:- Drowning, ‘Bends’, Working at Height (>2
metres), Integrity of Fall Harness, Safety ropes, Access equipment, Lack of training, Gas Cooking / Heating:- CO poisoning,
Fire, Burns, Vehicles Collision:- Being struck by, Fuel fires, Loose loads, Hazardous terrain, Crime:- Theft, Violence.
Work Abroad: Vehicles, Catering:- Food-borne illness, Water-borne illness, Local factors:- Restrictions on photography,
Local (differing) customs / Sense of humour, Sexual harassment, , Health:- Illness, Infection (eg hepatitis and HIV),
Accommodation:- Availability, Suitability, Sanitation,
Other Stressors: Accommodation problems, differing expectations, crime, language/communication problems, isolation,
remoteness, lack of family/peer support, workload. Stress trauma
General: Lone Working Isolation Health Pre-existing conditions Food intolerance/allergy Foot problems Lack of fitness,
exhaustion
Behaviour: Group dynamics, Relationships, Alcohol related harm.
Legal problems Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Conservation areas, etc.
Security:- Civil Unrest, International Tension, Armed conflict, Terrorist activity, Criminal Activity (theft & violence).please
consider the current Home office security level if on international travel.
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Section 4 – Your assessment of the risks (Risk Assessment)
In this section following the instructions below, you need to assess the hazards and identify the measures you are going to take to reduce the risks.
Step
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Instructions
Guidance
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
For each Hazard you have identified in the previous list, please enter it into table 1 below.
Please then identify the most likely consequence (how bad / severe could it be if it happened?)
How likely is it to happen?
Multiply the two scores together and enter your risk score into the assessment (Consequence x Likelihood = Risk Score)
Now describe all the steps you are planning to take to either eliminate, reduce or control the risks you have identified (e.g. take factor 30 suncream, wear long trousers etc)
Do the controls you have listed do enough to control the risks, re-assess with a residual risk score (carry out step 1,2,&3 again and enter score into section x). Your have
now assessed the residual risk (the remaining risk, taking into account all the controls you are taking)
If the residual risk score is 9 or over (amber), you will need to discuss your trip further with your College / The Insurance Office. This is unlikely to affect your trip, but there
may be more that can be done to support you to reduce the risks further
Table 1 – Risk Assessment
Hazard
number
What is the hazard (e.g. low temperature,
falling rocks)
(C)
Consequence
(0-5)
X
(L)
Likelihood
(0-5)
=
(RS)
Risk
Score (025)
Action to be taken to control the
risk (pleas list all actions you will
be taking)
Residual Risk (the remaining
risk once your controls are put in
place)
C
X
L
=
1.
X
=
x
=
2.
X
=
X
=
3.
X
=
X
=
4.
X
=
X
=
5.
X
=
X
=
6.
X
=
X
=
7.
X
=
X
=
8.
X
=
X
=
9.
X
=
X
=
10.
X
=
x
=
RS
4
5
Consequence
Score
Description
Descriptor
Frequency
1
2
3
Insignificant
Minor
Moderate
5
Major
Major injuries, or
Person absent for
Minor injury or
long term
Minor injury not
more than 3 days /
illness, first aid
incapacity /
requiring first aid
bad sprain /
treatment needed
disability (loss of
broken bone
limb)
1
Rare
Not expected to
occur for years
< 1%
Probability
4
2
Unlikely
Expected to
occur at least
annually
1 – 5%
3
Possible
4
Likely
Catastrophic
Death or major
permanent
incapacity
Table 2: Consequence Score
5
Almost Certain
Expected to occur Expected to occur Expected to occur
at least monthly
at least weekly
at least daily
6 – 20%
Will only occur in
Reasonable chance
exceptional
Unlikely to occur
of occurring
circumstances
21 – 50%
> 50%
Likely to occur
More likely to occur
than not
Table 3 - Likelihood score
Consequence
1
Insignificant
2
Minor
3
Moderate
4
Major
5
Catastrophic
1 - Rare
1
2
3
4
5
2 - Unlikely
2
4
6
8
10
3 - Possible
3
6
9
12
15
4 - Likely
4
8
12
16
20
5 - Almost
Certain
5
10
15
20
25
Likelihood
Table 4 - Risk Scoring Matrix
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