Risk Assessment information for visits to Spitalfields City Farm. November 1st 2013
Address:
Spitalfields City Farm
Buxton Street
London E1 5AR
Tel 0207 247 8762
In the event of an emergency call 999.
Nearest hospital: Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, E11BB. Tel: 020 7377 7000
We recommend school groups bring a First Aid kit when visiting the Farm. First Aid kits are also held
in the Farm Office. A number of our staff are First Aid trained.
Activities at Spitalfields City Farm
ACTIVITY/LOCATION
HAZARDS
THOSE AT RISK
All, especially
children and
pregnant
women
Contact with
animals/Farm
environment
Infection and disease
from contact with
animals
RISK
LEVEL
H
ACTION - RISK REDUCTION MEASURES
Children and adults must wash and dry hands using soap and water and paper
towels after contact with animals, before eating and when leaving the farm.
School staff must supervise children’s handwashing.
Open wounds should be covered with a waterproof dressing.
Handwashing facilities available on the farm. Handwashing signs and H+S
information clearly on display + incorporated into Guided tour schedule.
Animal faeces regularly swept off paths and animals kept in enclosures
Pregnant women should not come into contact with sheep at lambing time.
For more information about specific risks see:
http://www.face-online.org.uk/face-news/preventing-or-controlling-ill-health-fromanimal-contact-at-visitor-attractions
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/
http://www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/farmsafe/ecoli.htm
RIS
L
All
M
People with
asthma and
other
allergies
All
L
Children
L
All group
members
H
All
M
Injury from biting,
kicking, trampling
Allergic reaction to
animal or bedding
Compost/Manure
Heaps
Access to Farm
Walking on the Farm
Farm Buildings/
Rooms
Contact with Plants/
Fungi
Farm Equipment and
Tools
Infections
Road, group members
leaving the farm
Injury from slipping,
tripping and falling;
uneven cobbles and
steps, wet ground
Workshops, Tool sheds,
feed room, medicine
rooms, hay barn – injury
from tools, or
dangerous substances
Kitchen – scalding from
hot water
Cafe - scalds from hot
drinks
Plant scratches, stings/
allergies. Poisoning
from plants/ fungi.
Injury from improper
use
Ponds
Drowning and infection
from pond water
Tree House
Falling, tripping,
splinters
Animals kept in fenced paddocks or enclosures and are handled with the support of
SCF staff. Visitors are alerted if the animals will be out of their areas. Visitors are not
permitted to feed animals except on guided tours with SCF staff. ‘No feeding’ signs
displayed. School staff to maintain discipline. SCF staff to make groups aware of safe
behaviour around the farm.
School staff are responsible for supporting individuals within their group and should
discuss with SCF staff any known allergies prior to the visit.
M
No contact with manure heaps or comost heaps
Access to farm via long walkway. Visiting school groups to bring appropriate adult
child ratio
Children and adults to wear suitable clothing and footwear. No running in the Farm.
Farm pathways regularly swept of debris.
L
L
L
L
M
L
Rooms kept locked when not in use. ‘No entry’ sign displayed.
All
L
All
L
All
M
All
M
Children
M
Children
M
Members of school groups only to enter the kitchen with permission and if
accompanied by SCF staff
Children to be supervised when walking past the cafe to access the toilets. No
running
Pathways kept clear of vegetation. Gardening sessions and plant tastings led by SCF
staff.
Tools stored securely when not in use. School groups only to use tools with permission
and after instruction with PPE as necessary. Tools kept well-maintained for safe
useage
School groups to bring appropriate child:adult ratio and to encourage safe
behaviour around the Farm. Contact with the water and activities around pond
(such as pond dipping) only to occur by arrangement and under supervision of SCF
staff, with a specific Risk Assessment. Visitors instructed in the importance of
handwashing following contact with pond water.
School staff to supervise use of Tree House at all times and to maintain safe behaviour
and appropriate uses
L
L
L
L
L
All
Wood burning stove in
yurt
Bee hive
Other farm users
Fire
Burns, smoke inhalation
poisoning
L
Allergic reaction from
stings
Safeguarding issues
All
L
All
M
Burns, smoke inhalation,
trampling
All
M
Fire lighting procedure adhered to (see separate RA): matches/lighter held by farm
staff, fire guard kept on at all times; children/adults briefed about chimney heat. Fire
extingusher, smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm in place in yurt and tested
weekly
Bee hive situated away from access areas within gated area and managed by
experienced bee keepers
SCF staff and regular volunteers to the Education programme are DBS checked, and
operate within the farm Child Protection Policy.
Farm staff are identified by Farm logo clothing.
School staff should be aware that there may be other groups, volunteers and
members of the public at The Farm at the time of their visit and should bring
appropriate numbers of adults and supervise their group at all times
School staff should bring a register of chlldren and fill out farm monitoring form on
arrival. In the event of fire follow instructions from farm staff. Meeting point in the
event of fire is Buxton Street.
L
L
L
L