Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment
RISK ASSESSMENT JANUARY 2023
Hazard Identified:
Overall
Who Might Be Harmed & How? The hall is a low-risk venue
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Users exercise common sense and are encouraged to report problems.
Further Action Required?
Continue to exercise common sense.
Hazard Identified:
Slips, trips and falls. Eg uneven surface of car park, steps, cleaning floors etc.
Hazard Identified:
General injuries.
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Users of the hall and car park may suffer injuries such as fractures or bruising if they slip, eg on spillages or over objects inside, on external steps or on slippery leaves or ice outside.
General injuries eg trapped fingers in doors, dropping tables on feet, harm from dealing with the gate at the side of the building and dealing with padlocks and bolts.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Car park surface maintained to be as even as possible.
• Parking space for elderly visitors or those with disabilities available next to hall entrance.
• Good lighting in car park and all rooms and corridors in hall.
• Users know (through booking form) to clear up spillages immediately and know where equipment for this is kept.
• Mats at entrances to stop rainwater being carried in.
• No trailing electrical leads/cables.
• Hall is well lit. Lighting in the middle room, kitchen and toilets is automatic.
• Salt is available in the storage shed along with a snow shovel if frost and snow cause a potential slip hazard.
• Outside spaces are regularly maintained to eliminate fallen branches, twigs and leaves and to clear up moss.
• Banisters are installed near both set of steps (up to front door and up to storage shed).
• Specialist non-slip paint has been applied to the steps to the front door and to the storage shed.
• First aid kit provided (in the kitchen).
• Fire doors to kitchen and middle room have finger protection applied.
• Toilet doors are wedged open by Pre-school, other users know to take extra care and to supervise children.
• Tables to be carried carefully (see below).
• Users know to take care and use common sense when unlocking and locking the bolts and padlocks for the gate and shed.
Further Action Required?
• Car park surface to be inspected regularly and repaired as necessary
• The hall cleaner knows which products to use on the floor and that enough time is left between cleaning and next hire for floors to dry.
• To install finger protection on all toilet doors.
Hazard Identified:
Working at height Eg changing light bulbs and putting up decorations etc.
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Anyone working at any height could suffer injuries, possibly very serious ones, should they fall.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Hall users know (through booking form) that they are responsible for providing their own stepladder if they wish to put up decorations above their natural reach.
• Hall cleaner to provide his own ladder to change bulbs and conduct maintenance at height.
Further Action Required? Stepladder in cleaning cupboard to be moved elsewhere (boiler room?).
Hazard Identified:
Outside spaces – Car park, side and garden.
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Pedestrians could suffer serious injury if struck by cars entering/leaving car park or moving in it. Reversing cars are a particularly dangerous hazard to small children. Car park is open to the main road - unsupervised children could run off. Bins could roll into people or cars if brakes are not applied correctly. Uneven levels in the side space could increase risk of falls. Play equipment in the garden could cause injuries.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Entrance/exit to car park clearly marked.
• Outside spaces are well lit.
• Hirers know that children need to be supervised in the outside spaces of the village hall at all times.
• Bin/recycling collection takes place at times when hall not in use.
• Deliveries to be organised during times when hall is not in use.
• Bins are in their own specified space in the car park (on level hard-standing) and are safely secured. Hirers never have any need to move bins.
• The side space has tape to mark where the floor changes from a slope to a step.
• The steps to the shed have banisters.
• The garden equipment is owned and regularly maintained by the Pre-school. Users are aware of this and are advised that they are welcome to use it at their own risk.
Hazard Identified:
Hazardous substances Eg cleaning products
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
The cleaner, and others cleaning, risk skin problems, eg dermatitis and eye damage, from direct contact with cleaning chemicals. Vapour may cause breathing problems.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Cleaning products marked ‘irritant’ replaced with milder alternatives.
• Cleaner knows to use products safely, eg follow instructions on the label, dilute properly and never transfer to an unmarked container.
• Cleaner has specific cleaning liquids locked safely in his cupboard with COSHH reports for them.
• Cleaning products for hirers’ use are stored out of reach of children. No COSHH reports necessary as they are domestic products to be used with caution as within the household.
Further Action Required?
Cleaner reminded to check for dry/red/itchy skin on hands and to speak to a doctor if he finds any and to tell a member of the Management Committee.
Hazard Identified:
Electricity
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Users risk electric shocks or burns from faulty equipment or installation.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Fixed installation items correctly installed by qualified electrician and inspected regularly.
• All repairs undertaken by qualified electrician.
• Safety plugs in sockets at ground level.
• Portable equipment checked for visual signs of damage before use.
• Information supplied to hall users via the Health and Safety file as to how to access the fuse box and switch off the electricity supply in case of emergency.
Further Action Required?
• Hall users know they are responsible for any equipment used on site.
• Ensure hall users know where the fuse box is via signposting
• Remind users that portable equipment considered unsafe should be marked and taken out of use and that they are responsible for any equipment they bring from home.
Hazard Identified:
Stored equipment
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Users could be injured by collapsing stacks of tables in the hall and by tables and chairs in the shed.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Users know (via booking form) that they must stack tables and chairs carefully so that they do not collapse
Hazard Identified:
Manual handling
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Users may suffer back pain if they try to lift objects that are too heavy or awkward.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Users know to move tables in pairs and chairs only 2 or 3 at a time.
• Users need to take care when moving heavy items up and down steps and from the inside to the outside and vice versa.
Hazard Identified:
Asbestos and gas
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Staff, and others, carrying out normal activities at very low risk. Asbestos only poses a risk if fibres are released into air and inhaled. Maintenance workers are most at risk.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Asbestos survey has been carried out, and no risk controls are required at present for asbestos.
• Gas boiler is housed in a separate ‘room’, not accessible by hirers of the hall. It is well ventilated and undergoes an annual maintenance check.
Hazard Identified:
Fire
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
If trapped, users could suffer fatal injuries from smoke inhalation/burns.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Fire risk assessment completed, and necessary action taken.
• Ensure the actions identified as necessary by the fire risk assessment are done.
Hazard Identified:
Heat
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Users may be burned or scalded in the kitchen or toilets.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Users make sensible use of ovens, grill, microwave, urn and kettle.
• Oven instructions are provided. Users are aware (via booking form) that red fuse switch is to be switched off unless the cooker is in use.
• Hot water in sinks (kitchen and toilets) is regulated to safe temperature.
• Toilet heaters are kept switched off. The ladies’ toilet heater is caged.
Hazard Identified:
Water
Who Might Be Harmed & How?
Leaks from pipes in toilets, kitchen and middle room. Leak from water heater in middle room.
Actions to take to mitigate risk:
• Hirers to contact Bookings Secretary as soon as possible after a leak is discovered.
• The water supply stopcocks are in the middle room to the left hand side of the window. There is one behind the piano (under the counter) with a secondary one further up the wall.
• Emergency contact details are up in the foyer and the kitchen.
Further Action Required?
To provide signage to main water tap in case of emergency.