School JourneysPlanning for the not so unexpected

Nic Carstens

Corporate Health and Safety

Tel:0208 891 7111

Email: n.carstens@richmond.gov.uk

The Risk Assessment• Think about relevant and foreseeable risk• Read the supplied risk assessments• Consider the group you are taking• Decide on suitable activities – don't be afraid to push the

limit!• Look particularly at first aid and emergency facilities

What a centre can give you?• Specific risks involved in activities they undertake• Trained and competent staff with training records• Knowledge of the local area and associated risks• Medical facilities, with possible first aid cover on site*• Advice and guidance* You still need cover for down time and travel

Your Risk Assessment• Refer to supplied risk assessment• Cover down time• Travel and transport• Your group and special needs (DDA)• Staff cover and first aid• Dietary and medical needs of children

Why are risk assessments important?

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) require employers to assess the risks of activities, introduce measures to control those risks and tell their employees about these measures.

• Risk assessments provide the fundamental intelligence on the hazards, risks and precautions for carrying out an activity

• The overall risk assessment for an adventure activity such as plunge pooling would need to cover:

• Generic risk assessment - The risks inherent in the activity • Site-specific risk assessment - The risks associated with the site • Dynamic risk assessment - The risks at the time

Am I a First-Aider?

• A first-aider has done the full 3 or 4 day course, not the one day appointed person course

• An appointed person takes charge of a situation, but is not insured to administer first aid

• Category A trips, we would recommend taking a first-aider.

When it all goes wrong• Don’t panic• Know your risk assessment • Act within your competency• Get help• Could you predict it?• Could a specialist have predicted it?

Lessons from the past

• Max Palmer• Plunge pooling accident in Lake District• Lack of suitable risk assessment & management system• Poor supervision & competency by leaders• Teacher sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter

What happened?• Max Palmer, a 10 year old Lancashire

schoolboy, died while ‘plunge pooling’ during an activity weekend. His mother and another pupil were airlifted to hospital.

Where?• Glenridding in Cumbria

When?• May 2002

Why?• The weather was poor. The stream was in spate. The water was

very cold. And, most of all, there were serious deficiencies by the party leader in planning and leading the activity.

How?• The plunge pooling session involved jumping 4 metres into a rock

pool in a mountain stream and swimming to an exit point. The group leader jumped in first. He said it was alright. Soon afterwards, Max jumped in. As soon as he surfaced, he was in difficulties and unable to get out. The leader jumped in to rescue him but, after several minutes, was overcome by the cold. Max’s mother, who was accompanying the visit, also attempted a rescue, but she too was gradually overcome by the cold. She was rescued by a pupil who also suffered from hypothermia. Both he and the mother were airlifted to hospital. Max was washed over the weir at the exit to the pool and tumbled down the raging beck.

He was pulled out by other pupils, but pronounced dead at the scene.

The HSE’s 10 vital questions • 1. What are the main objectives of the visit?• 2. What is "Plan B" if the main objectives can't be achieved?• 3. What could go wrong ? Does the risk assessment cover:• The main activity • "Plan B" • Travel arrangements • Emergency procedures • Staff numbers, gender and skill mixes • Generic and site-specific hazards and risks (including for Plan B) • Variable hazards (including environmental and participants’ personal abilities and the

‘cut off’ points). • 4. What information will be provided for parents?• 5. What consents will be sought?• 6. What opportunities will parents have to ask questions (including any arrangements

for a parents’ meeting)?• 7. What assurances are there of the leader(s) competencies?• 8. What are the communication arrangements?• 9. What are the arrangements for supervision, both during activities and ‘free time’ – is

there a Code of Conduct?• 10. What are the arrangements for monitoring and reviewing the visit?

Conclusion

• School journeys are positive and fun for all involved• HSE & LEA strongly support teachers and school in undertaking

school journeys• Risk assessments are simple, relevant and cover foreseeable risk

only• Plan now, don’t pay later!• Follow up each journey with a

review, learn from your own experience, but don’t reinvent the wheel!

• If in doubt, ASK!