Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are not as scary and difficult as people think. As volunteers you do these all the time, both in your daily lives and within scouting without even thinking about it.

Example: Would you use a sharp knife to feed a baby?

No obviously you wouldn’t you would use a small soft plastic spoon. Why because using a knife is dangerous. Obvious isn’t it, and a lot of of risk assessments might seem obvious but it is the process of recording these thought process and although that example is quite straight forward some of the things you will need to risk asses might not be so clear cut. 

A risk assessment is all about you taking time out to stop and think about the activities/processes you are about to conduct and how we keep the young people, volunteers, members of the public and yourself self SAFE whilst also preventing damage to equipment. 

This is why its so important that when you conduct a risk assessment it is shared with you whole team. They need to know what you as the event leader/co-coordinator want them to do in certain situations. It is also important that all your risk assessments are followed. There is no point writing a risk assessment if the control measures laid out are not followed. 

The steps to carry our your risk assessment can be broken down in to 5 key points. 

Risk assessment process

Other considerations

Individual Needs

Consider the individual needs of your group and, where relevant, list in your risk assessment in a sensitive way. This could be the identification that someone in the group has an allergy so not to have that food item present during the meetings, or a differing control due to someone having a differing physical need. Have conversations with the parents / guardians and individuals to help with this.

Risk assessments should include information on how you will minimise safeguarding risks such as your ratios, following the yellow card and when undertaking a nights away event, details of your sleeping arrangements, making sure that young people and adults have separate accommodation and privacy.

Building a culture of safety within the Scouts will help to keep everyone safe, making sure safety is thought of in all situations and not just those activities perceived to be high risk.

Whilst members are following the rules and procedures set out by the Scouts they are insured and will be supported should something not go to plan.

Example risk assessments

Below you can find a selection of example risk assessments. These should be used for you to read through and can be used to base your risk assessment from. However ensure you read to make sure all points used are relevant to your activity. 

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