School of Biological Sciences
Off-site Activity Risk Assessment Form
Title of off-site activity
a working title used to identify this work
Plant Collecting for 2nd & 3rd year Botany courses (BIOL 2023/2923; PLNT 3003)
Other details
Location(s) of work
where the work will take place
Bush reserves and Crown Land in Sydney urban areas. Areas visited include heathland and
dry sclerophyll forest, with access gained by foot along fire trails
Date(s) of activity
inclusive dates, with expected return date or time
Once a week on most weeks from the end of February to the end of April and once in mid
June
Off-site participants
Anne-Laure Markovina, Malcolm Ricketts
Description of the activity
Collect plant specimens for practical classes using loppers and /or secateurs under Scientific
Licence #SL100148 issued by the Office of Environment & Heritage; NSW National Parks &
Wildlife Services
Sites are accessed by foot along fire trails or walking tracks. Some sites are located along
roads in urban areas
who assessed the risks
Assessor
Anne-Laure Markovina
e.g., MSc student,
project advisor, etc.
Relationship to the work
Experienced Technical Officer responsible for work
Date of this assessment
e.g., “dd/mm/yyyy”
09/08/2013
Date for review
when this document should be reviewed
09/08/2016
1
First Aid Kits
A first aid kit is carried in the car and when on foot, by one of the two people undertaking the
collecting activity. The kit includes a Setopress (snake bite) compression bandage.
Reporting of incidents
All incidents and injuries must be reported to the Safety Officer, Mr Michael Joseph; ph:
9351 4098 or 0401 141 367 and OHS and Injury Management (OHSIM), ph: 9351 4335
Ambulance emergency contact (life threatening or critical emergency)
000
Local University Medical Centre Contact
University Health Service
Wentworth Building GO1
Level 3, City Road
Hours: 8.30am to 5.30pm
Phone: 9351 3484
Local Hospital Contact
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
50 Missenden Road, NSW 2050
Phone (General enquiries): 9515 6111
2
Public Hospitals
BALMAIN HOSPITAL
Booth Street, Balmain
Phone: 9395 2111
MONA VALE HOSPITAL
Coronation Street, Mona Vale
Phone: 9998 0333
MANLY HOSPITAL
Darley Road, Manly
Phone: 9976 9611
HORNSBY HOSPITAL
Palmerston Road, Hornsby
Phone: 9477 9123
ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL
Reserve Road, St Leonards
Phone: 02 9926 7111
THE SUTHERLAND HOSPITAL and COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
Cnr Kingsway and Kareena Road, Caringbah
Phone: 9540 7111
THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL and COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
Barker Street or High Street, Randwick
Phone: 9382 2222
ST GEORGE HOSPITAL and COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
Gray St, Kogarah
Phone: 9113 1111
3
Key:
Severity (S)
Probability (p)
Risk Factor (RF) (S x p)
Critical 3
Probable 3
4-9 High Risk
Serious 2
Possible 2
4 Medium Risk
Minor 1
Unlikely 1
1-3 Low Risk
Environmental hazards
The environment is always a potential hazard (e.g., location, remoteness, climate, terrain,
glaciers, crevasses, cliffs, caves, mountains, mines, quarries, tides, quicksand,
neighbourhood, pollution, facilities belonging to other organizations, barbed wire, electric
fences, and unstable stacks of hay or straw). You must complete this section, identifying and
assessing any risks associated with this hazard.
Examples of risk: exposure, sunburn, heatstroke, illness, hypothermia, getting lost
Risk
Persons at risk
S
p
RF
Slipping, falling, cutting or otherwise
injuring oneself from tools or existing
physical impediments
Staff
1
2
2
Injury from dangerous objects. e.g.
falling trees or branches
Staff
2
1
2
Injury to eyes from dust or other
windswept objects
Staff
1
2
2
2
1
2
In changeable weather there is a risk
Staff
of getting cold and wet. In sunny
weather there is a risk of sunburn
S = Severity of risk, p = probability of risk, RF = risk factor
4
Control Measures
1. Any member of staff should be accompanied by another person and remain in
close proximity at all times
2. Wear appropriate clothing and strong footwear at all times – open-toed
footwear (including thongs or sandals) is expressly forbidden for plant
collecting activities
3. Carry warm waterproof clothing. Protect your body from the sun with clothes to
cover your shoulders, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Sunscreen is advised
even in overcast conditions for people susceptible to sunburn. If several hours
of activity is planned, carry a bottle of water to prevent dehydration
4. If weather changes dramatically, be prepared to abandon collecting activity and
return to base until more suitable weather resumes. Plan for this possibility in
advance to achieve required outcome in a timely fashion
5. Care needs to be taken in high wind conditions and on days following
prolonged wet/windy weather or at any time working near dead or unstable tree
branches. Wear sunglasses or protective glasses to avoid risk of wind-borne
delivery of debris to eyes
6. Loose rocks and gravel on pathways can be dangerous and should be treated
with caution, especially on slopes
7. It is expressly forbidden to climb on rocks more than 2m high
8. In forests, objects on the ground, such as rocks and fallen trees, frequently
have a covering of moss, which can be slippery when wet. Proceed over such
areas with caution
9. Be mindful of passing vehicular and pedestrian traffic – always park in
designated bays or within road verges. If using loppers, store and access them
from passenger side of vehicle and carry them parallel to pathway
10. Carry mobile phone and pre-program in relevant numbers to alert appropriate
contacts of any difficulties or injuries
5
Biological hazards
This is always a potential hazard (e.g., poisonous plants, venomous animals, aggressive
animals, soil or water micro-organisms, insects, forests and forest fires). You must complete
this section, identifying and assessing any risks associated with this hazard.
Examples of risk: adverse reaction to bites and stings, being bitten by larger
animals, exposure to disease, contracting tetanus
Risk
Persons at risk
S
p
RF
Stings/ rashes from plant leaves,
scratches or cuts from plant barbs,
thorns or prickles
Staff
1
1
1
Bites/stings from venomous
snakes/insects
Staff
2
1
2
Fires might start in vegetation during
dry weather.
Staff
Some plants in this region are
Staff
poisonous
S = Severity of risk, p = probability of risk, RF = risk factor.
1
2
1
1
1
2
Control Measures
1. Move carefully through vegetation to avoid injury from thorns and spines
etc. Be aware of the safety of the accompanying person
2. Take care when handling plants
3. Do not eat any part of a plant
4. Ensure first aid kits are carried and staff are trained in applying restrictive
bandages for snakebite
5. If bitten by a snake, record details to aid in identification, apply a restrictive
bandage and seek medical assistance immediately
6. Be alert for the presence of bees, spiders, ticks, wasps, caterpillars,
leeches etc. If these animals are seen, treat them with caution and avoid
contact. Ensure people collecting do not suffer from known allergic
response. Treat minor bites or stings as appropriate and seek medical
advice if required
7. Check before leaving for weather warnings regarding fire hazard conditions
and any back-burning operations near collecting area. Avoid collecting in
areas prone to encroachment from established fires
8. Staff should not smoke near dry vegetation, or discard cigarettes at the
roadside
6
Equipment hazards
Is equipment used (e.g., special clothing, sampling equipment, outboard motor) hazardous?
NO
Move to next hazard
YES X Use space below to identify and assess any risks
Examples of risk: inappropriate equipment, equipment failure, insufficient training in
use or repair of equipment, injury resulting from use of equipment, electrocution
Risk
Persons at risk
Injury resulting from improper use or
Staff
handling of plant collecting equipment.
S = Severity of risk, p = probability of risk, RF = risk factor.
S
p
RF
1
1
1
Control Measures
1. Ensure equipment is in good working order prior to activity
2. Transport plant collecting equipment in a safe manner and use only as
prescribed
Ill heath hazards
The possibility of ill health always represents a safety Hazard. Ill heath might result from
special medical considerations or from an accident, illness or assault. Use space below to
identify and assess any risks
Examples of risk: injury, asthma, allergies
Risk
Persons at risk
Someone might fall ill during the
Staff
activity
S = Severity of risk, p = probability of risk, RF = risk factor.
S
p
RF
2
1
2
Control Measures
1. If you are ill, advise your collecting partner and return to base or seek
medical advice as required
2. Ensure you are aware of any medical condition or allergic response likely to
impact on the well-being of the person with whom you are working in the
field
3. Details of major hospitals, emergency telephone numbers, the casualty
department and medical centres closest to base are on this form and
carried by the staff member responsible for the activity
7
Hazards in dealing with the public
Will people be dealing with the public (e.g., interviews, observations)?
NO X Move to next hazard
YES
Use space below to identify and assess any risks
Hazards associated with working alone
Could lone working be involved (e.g., lone interviews, working away from other team
members)? Note that working alone is only permitted in very special circumstances.
Consider the extent of lone working (i.e., how isolated is the lone worker?) and its
relationship to other work going on nearby
NO X Move to next hazard
YES
Use space below to identify and assess any risks
Working on, in or near water
Will people be working on, in or near water (e.g., rivers, marshland, sea)?
NO X Move to next hazard
YES
Use space below to identify and assess any risks
Examples of risk: drowning, malaria, hepatitis A, parasites
Manual handling hazards
Will manual handling (MH) activities take place (e.g., lifting, carrying, moving large or
heavy equipment)?
NO
Move to next hazard
YES X Use space below to identify and assess any risk
Risk
Persons at risk
Transport and use of loppers and
Staff
other equipment in the field
S = Severity of risk, p = probability of risk, RF = risk factor.
S
p
RF
1
1
1
Control Measures
1. Do not twist back when inserting or removing loppers from car
2. Carry loppers parallel to path
3. Do not overload yourself with material and equipment
4. Use safe/ ergonomic work practices when accessing material, especially when
extending loppers overhead. Do not over-reach
8
Hazards associated with substances
Will work with substances be involved (e.g., broken glass, plants, waste, pesticides,
dusts, contaminated soils, chemicals on site)?
NO X Move to next hazard
YES
Use space below to identify and assess any risks
Other hazards
Have you identified any other Hazards? Any other hazards that you identify must be
noted here and assessed. Examples include: vehicles, power lines, service pipelines,
insecure buildings, slurry and silage pits, military activity, civil disorder, problems
encountered when not working.
NO Move to next hazard
YES X Use space below to identify and assess any risks
Examples of risk: Accidents with vehicles, electrocution, drowning, assault
Risk
Persons at risk
S
p
RF
Accidents involving cars
Staff
3
1
3
S = Severity of risk, p = probability of risk, RF = risk factor
Control Measures
1. Always wear a seat belt when travelling in a car. Do not use a mobile
phone whilst driving unless it is hands-free. Take appropriate care with road
safety whilst entering and leaving vehicles
Inadequately controlled risks
Have you identified any risks that are not adequately controlled?
NO X Move to the declaration
YES
Use space below to identify the risk and any action that has been taken
9
Declaration
Risk Assessor
who has carried out this assessment and their relationship to the work
Anne-Laure Markovina (Technical Officer responsible for work)
In consultation with:
Mr. Michael Joseph (Safety Officer)
Signature
Date
09/08/2013
Witnessed by
who has witnessed this assessment and their relationship to the work
Signature
Date
Reviews of this document requiring no change
Date of
review
Reviewed by
(signature)
Witnessed by
(signature)
Date of
next review
09/08/2016
If you decide, after review, that the document does not need to be
changed, please inform XXXXX, with a new date for the next review.
10