1 Risk Assessment Mike Kerrigan

2 Risk assessment is more un-necessary paperwork Risk assessment stops my Scouts doing activities Risk assessment takes time I haven’t got Risk assessment is only there to keep the DC happy Risk Assessment

3 A Question of Balance Nothing worth having in life is ever attained without taking risks. Fridtjof Nansen

4 Risk Assessment Risk assessment is not about wrapping our young people in cotton wool

5 Why assess risks? It is the policy of The Scout Association to safeguard the welfare of all members by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm ‘Young people first’ The “Yellow Card”

6 Why assess risks? We have a duty to take reasonable care Parents expect it It helps us think about the precautions needed If it goes wrong, we can demonstrate that we took reasonable care

7 Facts 30% of accidents occur in or near the Group Headquarters 37% of accidents occur at camp Only 3% occur on expeditions

8 Risk Assessment is... Anticipating Planning Communicating “Being Prepared”!

9 A hazard is anything that could cause harm, A risk is the chance - high or low - that someone will be harmed by the hazard. Definitions

10 Risk Assessment Review Communicate Decide Controls Identify hazards Who is at risk?

11 Hazards What could go wrong? What potential dangers are there? What is the likelihood of it happening? Think wide

12 Controls What steps will we take to prevent or minimise the risk? Who needs to know? Is the risk now acceptable? Are we taking reasonable care? Do the benefits outweigh the remaining risk?

13 Risk Assessment

14 Communication Having written the Risk Assessment communicate it –To other Leaders –To Helpers –To the young people where appropriate They can’t apply the controls if they don’t know!

15 Risk Assessment Risk assessment is simple Risk assessment allows my Scouts to do activities safely Risk assessment helps inform the team on precautions Risk assessment gives confidence

16 Risk Assessment “Being prepared” for activities