Hazard Identified? /
Risks from it? | Who is at risk? | Gross Risk Rating
| How are the risks already controlled?
What extra controls are needed? | Net Risk Rating | Actions for further Controls
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Hazard – something that may cause harm or damage.
Risk – the chance of it happening. | Young people,
Leaders,
Visitors? | The gross risk rating is a combination of the likelihood of the risk happening and the impact should no mitigating actions be taken. | Controls – Ways of making the activity safer by removing or reducing the risk from it.
For example - you might use a different piece of equipment or you might change the way the activity is carried out. | The net risk rating is a combination of the likelihood of the risk happening and the impact once the mitigating actions have been taken. | These are further actions which have either been identified or are in the process of being implemented to provide additional control to mitigate risks |
Objects falling from above
| All Present, Visitors |
| Helmets to be worn by all participants, instructors, ground volunteers. Only persons wearing a helmet will be allowed within the fenced area around the tower. Helmets to be worn signs to be on the entrances to the tower and within the fence area. Participants only to enter the tower area (within the fence) when it is their turn. Participants will be asked to leave the tower area as soon as they are taken off the abseil ropes. There will be designated areas for putting on and taking off harnesses and helmets to minimise time spent within the tower area. Participants will be briefed not to walk under abseiling areas.
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Equipment failure / damaged equipment
| Everyone |
| - All equipment to be visually checked by permitted instructors prior to use at the start of each session.
All equipment supplied is formally inspected by a PPE inspector and condition recorded at 6-monthly intervals. Any equipment supplied by instructors, or other volunteers, must be inspected by a PPE inspector before use. Any equipment deemed unsuitable, damaged or out of date must not be used and alternative equipment will be provided. Equipment showing signs of damage will be marked with red tape and removed from use into a quarantine box until it can be re-inspected by a PPE inspector. Any equipment that can be fixed must not go back into use until this is done. Equipment that is deemed damaged beyond repair should be completely removed from the activity area. Material equipment damaged beyond repair will be cut so that it cannot be used. All equipment that is damaged (whether destroyed or repaired) to be documented and reported to the "owner" (Kinver Ops Manager or Scouts HW County climbing kit manager).
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Inverting on descent
| All Present |
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Becoming detached from rope whilst abseiling
| All Present |
| Participants to be attached by their harness to the safety (dynamic) rope by either:
a) Rethreaded figure of eight, with double overhand stopper knot, or
b) Locking carabiner, connected to belay loop of harness. Carabiner attached to the safety (dynamic) rope by means of figure of eight on the bight, with double overhand stopper knot. If attaching climbers using a carabiner, it must be of a type that has a locking gate (preferably with some form of visual indicator to differentiate when it is locked, and when it is unlocked).
Whether attaching using either method, participants must be checked by an instructor or qualified assistant immediately prior to approaching the abseil ledge, to ensure they are safely and correctly attached.
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Harness or helmet incorrectly fitted
| All Present |
| Ground volunteers to have induction training from a permitted instructor on how to correctly fit harnesses/helmets as per the manufacturers instructions. All equipment to be checked by a permitted instructor before the participant approaches the abseil ledge. Equipment may be fitted by capable participants, but it must be checked by the designated ground volunteer before entering the tower, and then by the instructor as above.
Participants to be cautioned not to adjust or alter equipment, once fitted, without the assistance of an instructor or ground volunteer. Certain hair styles may need to be adjusted for helmets to fit correctly. There are some exceptions where participants may be unable to wear a helmet as stated in the Scouts Activity Helmets Factsheet (FS120430). If this is the case, a dynamic risk assessment must be done by a permitted instructor to check if reasonable adjustment can be made. This may include adjustments such as reducing the number of abseils being operated. If adjustments cannot be made to allow the individual to take part in the activity safely, they should not take part in the activity. Safety remains the priority. The dynamic risk assessment should be recorded and a copy sent to the ShireJam Programme Team after the session, whether it is possible to make reasonable adjustment or not. FS120430 will be available for ground volunteers to view and this will be discussed during their induction before sessions.
Activity Helmets | Scouts
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Entanglement / entrapment of clothing, hair or fingers
| Participants |
| Loose clothing to be removed or secured. Loose hair to be tied back. Hair ties will be provided by ground volunteers. Loose and/or dangly jewellery to be removed.
Body piercings may need to be removed if they may be rubbed by harness or rope. Participants to be briefed by instructors to keep fingers away from the descent device and to only hold the rope not metal equipment. - Instructors must hold a Scout Permit that allows them to run abseiling as an activity without supervision and be confident in doing an abseil release. The exemption to this is:
- Instructors who have experience and are confident in running abseiling may instruct this activity as long as they are supervised at all times by an instructor who holds a Scout Permit as outlined above. The supervisor may not run an abseil whilst un-permitted instructors are instructing as they must be free to step in at any time. An instructor who holds a Leadership permit may supervise up to two un-permitted instructors. An instructor who holds a Supervisory Permit may supervise up to three un-permitted instructors. Due to the expected high numbers of participants for this event, each un-permitted instructor should be assessed individually on the day and a dynamic risk assessment must be done by the supervisor to ensure that they are confident before allowing more than one un-permitted instructor to run the activity. Permitted instructors taking supervisory responsibility have final say on who or how many instructors they are happy to supervise as long as it is not contradicting their Scout Permit.
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Misbehaviour of participants, causing a distraction and hazard
| All Present |
| Safety briefing given by ground volunteers when they arrive at the activity. Permitted instructors will only supervise 1 participant at a time. Participants will walk up the tower only when an abseil becomes free. Observers of the session to wait outside of the fenced area. Participants waiting will be supervised by an adult volunteer or young leader whilst on the ground or a permitted instructor once they enter the abseil tower. Participants will be removed from the activity if they fail to follow instructions or cause a hazard to themselves, other participants, instructors or other users.
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Falling
| All Present | | Safety briefing given by instructor at the start of the session. Belay equipment to be selected by instructor, based on the age, experience and capability of the participants, and the supervision available. Belay demonstration and instruction given by instructor prior to group climbing. Briefing to also include methods of communication and key instructions between instructor (or assistant), belayer and climber. Participants cautioned to stay on the line of the route they are climbing, and not to climb off to the side. In general, peer belaying shall be backed up by an instructor or capable assistant. Deviations from this shall only be sanctioned by an instructor, and based on the competence and experience of the individual participant. Lowering to be directly supervised by an Instructor or capable assistant, in line with the competence and experience of the belayer.
The Instructor will introduce appropriate measures to deal with any significant weight differences between the climber and belayer. This may involve, but it is not limited to, the use of weight bags, tethers to wall attachment points, adding friction to the rope system, or other suitable and recognised practices.
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| Fall from abseil tower | Instructors, Volunteers, Participants |
| - Participants harnesses must be check by ground volunteers before they enter the tower and then again by permitted instructors before they approach the abseil ledge.
- Participants must be attached by their harness to the abseil safety (dynamic) rope before approaching the abseil ledge by either:
a) Rethreaded figure of eight, with double overhand stopper knot, or
b) Locking carabiner, connected to belay loop of harness. Carabiner attached to the safety (dynamic) rope by means of figure of eight on the bight, with double overhand stopper knot. - The instructors must have hold of the abseil safety (dynamic) rope at all times once the participant is attached until they are on the ground.
- Participants who decide not to do to the abseil once at the top of the tower must be moved away from the ledge towards the stairs before the safety (dynamic) rope is removed.
- The abseil tower must not be left unattended until the fence surrounding the tower is locked.
- Only those given permission to enter the abseil tower are allowed on the abseil platform.
- All instructors and supervisors on the abseil platform must be tied in to an instructor safety line or lanyard at all times by either:
a) Rethreaded figure of eight, with double overhand stopper knot, or
b) Locking carabiner, connected to belay loop of harness. Carabiner attached to the instructor safety line by means of figure of eight on the bight, with double overhand stopper knot.
c) As per the manufacturer guidelines for equipment such as the Petzl Connect Adjust Lanyard.
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| Poor weather conditions | Instructors,Volunteers,Participants |
| - The abseil tower must not be used in the following adverse weather conditions:
- High winds
- Storms
- Snow/icy conditions - Other weather conditions that may affect the safety of the activity may include but are not limited to; heavy rain and poor lighting. In these circumstances, use of the activity must be paused and risk assessed before it can continue. If the risk assessment shows that adjustments can't be made to operate the activity safely, it must be closed.
- Closure of the activity should be reported to the Strive More Zone Lead and the ShireJam Programme Lead.
- If the activity is closed, it must be risk assessed and signed off by the Strive More Zone Lead and ShireJam Programme team before re-opening.
- The Strive More Zone Lead and Permitted Instructors are responsible for monitoring weather conditions and should advise the ShireJam Programme Team if weather conditions may endanger the safety of participants and/or volunteers on this activity.
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Safeguarding | Instructors,Volunteers |
| - There should be a minimum of 2 instructors (or 1 instructor and a volunteer) on the abseil platform at all times when the activity is being run for young people to ensure instructors are not in a 1-2-1 with a young person.
- Where possible, participants will be encouraged to put on harnesses themselves and/or assist other young people that they know. All instructors and volunteers for the activity are to ensure they are in full view of others when putting on or adjusting harnesses. They should also inform the participant of what they need to do to put on/adjust harnesses to ensure there is complete transparency.
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Repeat Accidents / Near Misses | All Present |
| - The activity must be stopped and closed if there is a severe accident or near miss.
- There must be a person who holds up to date first aid training on the activity at all times. Ideally this person is not an instructor so that they can be made available at any point if necessary.
- First aid kits will be available on the ground level and abseil platform. All instructors and volunteers to be informed of where these are located before the session starts.
- All accidents and near misses must be reported and documented.
- Closure of the activity should be reported to the Strive More Zone Lead and the ShireJam Programme Team.
- The activity must not be re-opened until a report has been completed, adjustments to prevent it happening again have been made, the activity risk assessment has been updated and the ShireJam Programme Team sign off on it re-opening.
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Slips, trips and falls | All Present |
| Participants should be told to descend the abseil by taking
small downward steps rather than being encouraged to jump or bounce, so as to
minimise the risk of slipping and injury. Participants to be briefed not to run up/down the tower steps prior to their turn. - Equipment on the ground floor to be stored in boxes and not left on the floor.
- Equipment on the abseil platform to be tied/clipped up and not left on the floor.
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