Schools’ Risk Assessment
In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulations made under it, the Home Front Museum will take all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all visitors, staff and contractors who may be affected by its activities.
The potential for health and safety risks to school pupils and teachers visiting the museum is minimal.
This document contains information on the general assessment of risk. Teachers are advised to make a pre-visit to create an enhanced assessment if required. Please telephone the museum on 01492 871032 to make an appointment.
Adrian Hughes (Proprietor)
Assessment Date: December 2019 Review Date: December 2020
Action scoring criteria | |
Likelihood | |
1 | Unlikely though conceivable. |
2 | Possible but unusual. |
3 | Even chance. |
4 | Probably / not surprising. |
5 | Likely / to be expected. |
Severity | |
1 | Scratch, minor abrasion, bruise, general discomfort, no property damage. |
2 | Cuts, minor burns, sprains, minor ill health, allergy, property damage. |
3 | Bone fracture, temporary illness, property damage. |
4 | Unconsciousness, major burn, serious illness, loss of limb or eye, extensive property damage. |
5 | Fatality or property damage. |
Risk Factor = likelihood x severity
Risk factor score of 25 = severe risk Risk factor score of 1 = minor risk Areas most at risk | Risk factor | How the risk will be controlled |
Slips, trips and falls. Could occur on uneven surfaces. | 3 x 3 = 9 | Museum staff will point out potential hazards to pupils and teachers. Maintenance staff will erect signs if floors are slippery and wet. Schools are invited to bring a first aid kit. A first aid kit is stationed at the museum reception (only authorised personnel from the school should administer first aid). |
Handling objects. A child could swallow small parts or trap fingers in items with moveable parts. | 2 x 2 = 4 | Handling items should be with care and supervised by class teachers and adult helpers. Children are encouraged to handle historic items correctly. |
Verbal / physical abuse. Could happen between children or towards them from members of the public. Children could direct abuse at teachers / museum staff. | 2 x 1= 2 | Class teacher and adult helpers will brief children on museum behaviour. Front of house staff will deal with members of the public who behave inappropriately. |
Child left behind. Could have wandered to another part of the museum, no head count done at the end of the trip. | 1 x 1 = 1 | Ensure the museum has the correct contact details of both the school and the mobile phone number of the class teacher. Teachers should ‘head count’ the class before leaving the premises. In the unlikely event, the museum child protection policy will be employed: The school will be contacted and child supervised at the reception until the class teacher or a parent/ guardian comes to collect. |
Missing Child / Abduction. The museum is open to members of the public and children will be in public spaces during their teaching sessions. | 1 x 5 = 5 | Adequate ratio of staff to children should be provided by the school – the museum suggests a 1:5 ratio. Children remain in the ‘duty of care’ of their teachers during the visit and must be supervised at all times in the museum. Museum staff should be alerted in the unlikely event of a missing child and museum child protection procedures will be employed: Police will be summoned immediately after a sweep of the building has been conducted. |
