Name of activity / event / location	Fire Circle	Date of risk assessment	25/03/2024	Name of who undertook this risk assessment	M E
		Date of next review	25/03/2025

Hazard Identified? / Risks from it?	Category	Who is at risk?	How are the risks already controlled? What extra controls are needed?	What has changed that needs to be thought about and controlled?
Hazard – something that may cause harm or damage. Risk – the chance of it happening.	Category to help organise risks	Young people, Leaders, Visitors?	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.	Keep checking throughout the activity in case you need to change it…or even stop it! This is a great place to add comments which will be used as part of the review.
Rough wood – risk of splinters or blisters from handling.	Fire	All Present	Leaders should tell everyone to take care when cutting or snapping wood. Everyone should wear strong gloves if they can.
Risk of burns from mistakes or misuse.	Fire	All Present	Ensure you have enough responsible individuals to properly supervise young people when they’re using hot items (such as ovens, stoves, candles, and fires). Everyone should use heat sources in a defined area, and restrict access to limit passers-by and through traffic. Leaders should brief young people on the dangers and safe use of heat sources before they use them. Leaders should explain the rules for firelighting including no picking up burning wood, not throwing objects onto the fire, and holding wood by one end and lowering it onto the fire with your fingers near the ground. No one should wear loose clothing around fires – watch out for open coats, neckers, and scarves. The size of the fire should be no larger than necessary and the addition of fuel should be monitored to ensure it will remain the size required. Leaders should make sure there is a first aid kit available and that an individual with current first aid training is available. Leaders should make sure that cold water is available nearby – there should be at least a bucket, running water is best if possible, for immediate treatment of burns.
Uncontrolled spread of fire.	Fire	All Present	Leaders should make sure fire fighting equipment is available. Options include extinguishers, fire buckets, spades, and beaters. Everyone should think about location of their fire. It shouldn’t be near tents or directly under low trees that could be damaged. They should also consider wind direction. Everyone should build their fire off the ground on a stable platform when possible.
Pollutants from wood – risk of ill health to participants.	Fire	All Present	Everyone should only use natural wood for cooking. Leaders should check the wood from wood pile before the meeting and decide whether it’s suitable.
Harm from falling off steps	Activity - Fire Circle	All Present	Always use steps to access and exit the upper tiers. Effectively manage behaviour and ensure horseplay is minimised. If an individual cannot access the stairs without additional risk, instruct them to climb down the tiers by sitting on the edge, and placing their feet on the next tier down, then repeat as required, use the reverse if needing to climb again. Do not jump or attempt to step one foot at a time to move between tiers.