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. |
| Slips, trips & falls on slipways or banks | Site safety | Participants & Leaders | Inspect access points; ensure clear, non-slip surfaces; use appropriate footwear; brief hazard zones. | Before each session |
| Manual handling (boats/equipment) | Physical injury | Leaders & Volunteers | Team lifting; manual-handling training; use trolleys; avoid solo lifting heavy kit. | Annually or when procedures change |
| Capsize & drowning | Life safety | Participants & Leaders | Wear correctly-fitted buoyancy aids; pre-launch capsize drill; group-to-leader ratio 4:1; ensure all are competent swimmers. | Every trip and upon changes |
| Collision with other water users | Operational safety | Participants & Leaders | Pre-launch briefing on river etiquette; maintain group control; choose quieter timing and venues; use dedicated rescue equipment. | Seasonly or site change |
| Cold water shock, hypothermia | Environmental | Participants & Leaders | Use appropriate wetsuits/drysuits; monitor weather; enforced breaks; hot drinks and clothing change for cold or rainy conditions. | Weather-dependant / monthly |
| Heat stress & sunburn | Environmental | Participants & Leaders | Encourage water intake; use sun protection (sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, lightweight clothing). | Monthly or hot weather |
| Equipment failure (boats/paddles/BA) | Equipment integrity | Participants & Leaders | Pre-use visual checks; repair or retire damaged gear; regular maintenance schedules. | Before use / monthly |
| Entrapment from obstacles (rocks/weirs) | Environmental hazard | Participants & Leaders | Pre-assess route for hazards; teach avoidance techniques; leaders to perform dynamic risk assessments on the water. | Pre-trip & ongoing active |
| Head injuries (hard impacts) | Physical injury | Participants & Leaders | Use helmets in grade ≥2 white water or rocky shores; dynamic assessment to identify when head protection is needed. | Site-dependent |
| Waterborne illness (e.g. leptospirosis) | Health | Participants | Educate on risks; post-session hygiene (showers, clean wounds); avoid swallowing water. | Annually |
| Behavioural risks (unacceptable disruption) | Behavioural safety | Participants & Spectators | Behavioural briefing; clear code of conduct; ability to stop session if needed; buddy systems. | Before each session |
| Dynamic changes (weather, water flow, group ability) | Risk management | Leaders | Ongoing dynamic risk assessment; adjust route, timing, or abort session; maintain communication via radio/phone. | Continual during each session |
| Injury from strain or overexertion | Physical injury | Participants | Warm-up and cool-down routines; teach correct paddling techniques; monitor effort levels. | Every session |
| Weather extremes (storms/lightning) | Environmental | Participants & Leaders | Check forecasts; enforce shelter rules; abort session in unsafe conditions. | Pre-trip and updated mid-session |
| Rescue incidents | Emergency response | Leaders | Leaders hold first-aid and rescue qualifications; carry first-aid kit, throw lines, rescue barrel; practice rescue drills. | 6‑monthly |
| Group separation/lost participants | Operational safety | Participants & Leaders | Assign front/back leaders; use radios/phones; set mandatory stop and regroup points. | Pre-trip and during trip |
| Dynamic environmental hazards (e.g. stoppers, tide) | Operational hazard | Participants & Leaders | Identify in static RA; on-water dynamic decisions; teach recovery from river features; practise rolling/swimming. | Ongoing |
