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