Risk Assessment – Green Lancaster Exodus Project
Project Details
Exodus Re-Use Project Summer 2013 (June to September inclusive)
Please see below for the risks associated with this project.
The event will be organised by staff from Green Lancaster.
“Green Lancaster Member” refers to any representative of Green Lancaster; Staff members, student staff or volunteers.
Ongoing Assessment
The Risk Assessment process must be ‘on-going’ and ‘dynamic’.
In other words, professional judgements and decisions regarding safety will need to be made during the activity. If the control
measures aren’t sufficient, the activity must not proceed.
GL Project Coordinator: Darren Axe (01524 593681)
GL Additional Point of
Contact:
BASE Contact
Date(s) and Time(s) of
Activity:
University Contact
Points
Sarah Hinton, LUSU Involve Manager (01524 593693)
Lancaster University Security: 01524 65201
Project Start: 19/6/2013
Review Date: 18/6/2014
If you have any concerns that cannot be resolved by the staff or volunteers on the activity please
contact Lancaster University Security office on: 01524 594541.
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Risk Assessment – Green Lancaster Exodus Project
Section 1: PEOPLE & SAFEGUARDING
1.3: Competence of Staff & Volunteers (Training and Experience)
Control
Risk
Level
Responsible for
maintaining control
Poorly trained GL
members
Injury caused by
lack of training or
understanding of
tasks
All GL members to be issued with a safe
participation statement by e-mail before starting
work on the project. There will be a project briefing,
including safety considerations at the team training
on 19/06/13.
Low
Project Coordinator
Manual handling
Injury caused by
lack of awareness
of safe manual
handling
All GL members will take part in a safe manual
handling training session on 19/6/2013. This will
take place prior to any GL member commencing
work on the project.
Low
Project Coordinator
Control
Risk
Level
Responsible for
maintaining control
GL members are to make the Project Coordinator
aware if they have any needs that may restrict their
ability to complete tasks associated with the
project.
GL members should inform the project coordinator
at the training session or as soon as possible by email following the briefing session of any specific
needs or difficulties they may have with the
proposed activity. The Project Coordinator will
make arrangements to ensure that GL members
with difficulties or needs are able to participate in
tasks within their capabilities.
Low
Possible Hazards
Associated Risk
(including who is affected)
1.5: Support Needs (SEN / Medical / Other)
Possible Hazards
Volunteers with SEN/
Medical/ Other needs
getting into difficulty whilst
undertaking tasks
Associated Risk
(including who is affected)
Injury to staff
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GL members
Project Coordinator
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Risk Assessment – Green Lancaster Exodus Project
Section 2: CONTEXT
2.1: Activities & Equipment
Possible
Associated Risk
(including who is affected)
Hazards
Heavy or
bulky items
Sharp or
dangerous
items placed
in donation
crates or bags
Dirt or other
unhygienic
substances
contacting
skin
Control
Risk
Level
Injury to staff
member or back
strain due to
liftingheavy items
GL members will always work as part of a team of 2 or 3 members.
Staff will be trained in safe manual handling procedures and will
adopt the principles of safe manual handling when lifting and
transporting heavy or bulky items. A manual handling assessment
has been completed for the movement of all heavy and bulky items
and is attached to this Risk Assessment document.
Moderate
Injury or cut to staff
member
GL members will wear disposable nitrile gloves when handling
donations to minimise contact of dangerous items with skin. Tough
rubberised palm gloves or nitrile gauntlet gloves will be worn if
handling broken glass or other sharp items such as knives.
Low
GL members
Injury/ infection to
staff member
GL members will wear disposable nitrile gloves when handling
donations to minimise contact of dangerous items with skin. These
will be disposed of after each shift and hands will be cleaned with
anti-septic wipes.
Low
GL members
Medical/
hygiene items
such as
subscription
tablets
Injury or infection
risk to staff
member
Needles or
syringes
Injury or infection
risk to staff
member
If any medical items are discovered with the donations, the GL
member will wear nitrile gloves if the items need to be handled. The
items will be placed in a yellow clinical waste disposal bag and
temporarily stored in the yellow medical items disposal box in the
container. A regular collection from the container will be arranged
through the Safety Office (01524 510617).
If any needles/ syringes are discovered among the donations, they
will not be handled by members of the staff team. If any needles/
syringes or needle containers are found, these will be reported at
the nearest porters’ lodge for the porter to arrange for safe
disposal. If necessary, the donation point will be cordoned off until
the items have been removed and the area sterilised. If any team
member comes into inadvertent physical contact with needles/
syringes, immediate medical advice will be sought at Lancaster
Royal Infirmary.
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Responsible for
maintaining control
Project Coordinator
GL members
Project Coordinator
Moderate
GL members
Project Coordinator
Moderate
GL members
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Risk Assessment – Green Lancaster Exodus Project
Section 2: CONTEXT
2.2: Physical Environment (Venue)
Possible Hazards
Associated Risk
Work Site
Injury to staff due
to unsafe or
unsuitable site for
work.
(including who is affected)
Control
Risk Level
Responsible for
maintaining control
The majority of work associated with the project is taking
place at Lancaster University campus which is a low risk site.
GL members working at sites other than Lancaster University
campus will be informed on the daily task sheet of any site
specific hazards and safety precautions.
Low
Project Coordinator
Risk Level
Responsible for
maintaining control
Moderate
GL members
2.3: Travel/ Transport
Possible Hazards
Associated Risk
(including who is affected)
Traffic
Injury to staff due to
collisions
Driving
Road traffic incident,
injury
Travelling in
vehicles
Road traffic incident,
injury
Parking/
manoeuvring the
vehicle
Road traffic incident,
injury
Control
Interaction with traffic will be minimal as most of the work
will take place on campus which is largely pedestrianised
and 20mph speed limit is in force on all roads. When
crossing roads, GL members will use crossings where
available or choose safe and appropriate crossing locations.
Vehicles will only be used by GL members 21 years of age
or above. Designated drivers must fill out a Driver
Declaration Form which will be kept on file by the Project
Coordinator. Speed limits will be observed at all times. The
vehicle log form must be filled out at the start and end of
each shift.
All GL members will wear seatbelts at all times when
travelling in vehicles. Passengers will not distract the driver
and the designated navigator will give directions to the
driver.
When the driver is manoeuvring/ parking the vehicle, one of
the passengers will assist the driver by standing well back to
the rear of the vehicle and communicating with the driver
with clear hand signals. This team member will wear a hi-viz
vest at all times and stay clear of other vehicles and traffic.
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Project Coordinator
Moderate
GL members
Moderate
GL members
Moderate
GL members
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Risk Assessment – Green Lancaster Exodus Project
Section 3: ORGANISATION
3.1: Emergency Procedures
Possible Hazards
Associated Risk
(including who is affected)
Lack of First Aid
assistance
Increased or
prolonged effect of
injuries
Litigation following injury /
incident
Organisation
involved in legal
proceedings
Fire in buildings
Injury, burning
Control
First Aid assistance is available on campus through
the security office. First Aid assistance will be
summoned at the nearest porters’ lodge, where if
qualified, the porter will assist with First Aid. If the
nearest porter is not qualified, or additional
emergency assistance is required security will be
called on 01524 65201. Telephones are available
in all porter lodges.
Incident report forms will be kept in a file on the
desk in the sorting container and must completed
for all injuries, incidents and first aid treatment.
These will always be reported back via the Project
Coordinator to the LUSU Involve Director/
Assistant Director and kept on file.
A copy of all first aid treatment MUST be given to
University Security.
GL members will ensure they are aware of fire
evacuation procedures for the buildings they enter
on campus. Fire Action signs in all buildings inform
building users of escape routes and assembly
points.
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Risk
Level
Responsible for
maintaining control
Low
Project Coordinator
Lead Volunteer
Low
Project Coordinator
Moderate
GL members
22/03/2016
Risk Assessment – Green Lancaster Exodus Project
The undersigned believe this assessment to cover all significant risks associated with the above activity and accept their responsibilities
for ensuring associated controls are in place.
Section 5: Authorisation and Communication
5.1: Authorisation
Position
Print Name
Project Coordinator:
Darren Axe
LUSU Involve Deputy Director:
Sign
Date
18/6/14
Sarah Hinton
Please detail how this risk assessment will be communicated to volunteers and other parties who must comply:
5.2 Communication
Who needs to understand
this assessment?
Project Staff
How and when will this be communicated to them?
By Who?
Project Staff to be briefed and issued with a Safe Participation
Statement prior to commencing work on the project on Wed 19th
June 2013.
Project Coordinator
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Risk Assessment – Green Lancaster Exodus Project
Appendix 2: Risk Rating Guide
Below is a simple guide to help risk assessors determine the risk rating of each hazard identified. This guide is intended to help you and
to try and implement/maintain some consistency between individuals when assessing risks; it is not meant to be a burden which confuses
and complicates matters.
A Risk Assessment should be ‘Suitable and Sufficient’. That is to say:





It should identify the risks arising in connection with the activity.
The level of detail included should be proportionate to the risk.
It must consider all those who might be affected i.e. staff, pupils, other instructors etc.
It should be appropriate to the activity and should identify the period of time for which it is likely to remain valid.
It should enable management to determine the level of control measures necessary
All project activity has potential hazards and risk to staff and pupils, therefore the control measures identified should be
sufficient to reduce the risk to acceptable levels.
If the control measures aren’t sufficient, consideration must be given to absolute ‘cut off criteria’ and the activity must not
proceed. In addition, there must always be an alternative activity (Plan B), prepared and risk assessed. The control measures
identified on a form are the written evidence that the six key areas above have been considered.
Risk Rating = Likelihood x Severity
Likelihood:
Severity:
Risk Level Matrix:
1
Improbable
1
No or trivial injury/illness
2
Unlikely
2
Minor Injury/Illness
3
Even Chance
3
3+ Days Lost Time Injury/Illness
4
Likely
4
Major Injury/Severe Incapacity
5
Almost Certain
5
Death(s)
L
i
k
e
l
i
h
o
o
d
Key
5
5
10
15
20
25
Insignificant
4
4
8
12
16
20
Low
3
3
6
9
12
15
2
2
4
6
8
10
High
1
1
2
3
4
5
Intolerable
1
2
3
4
Severity
5
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-
Moderate
22/03/2016