Slipper Mill Pond Preservation Association
Registered Charity No:277744

 

General Works Risk Assessment Statement

ACTIVITY ASSESSED
Bank Repairs & Reed Planting 		ASSESSMENT DATE
March 2011 		ASSESSED BY
N Madinaveitia
ACTIVITY LOCATION
Slipper Mill Pond - Reed Planting 		NEXT ASSESSMENT BEFORE APPROVED BY
HAZARD OR HAZARDOUS EVENT Who's at risk? Risk level

PRECAUTIONS

Contact with hand tools All 5 Inspect tools before use and do not use any that are damaged or have loose handles.
Tools must be maintained in good condition and kept sharp.
Train all on site in correct tool use, according to BTCV booklet 'Hand Tools - a guide to safe use and care'.
No gloves to be worn when using swinging tools, unless other hazards, e.g. plant sap, are greater. If so, safe working distance is at least 20m.
Ensure correct tool is used for each job.
Sturdy footwear with a firm grip must be worn.
Deep or fast flowing water All 5 Waders must be worn for water above welly and below thigh height; chest waders for water above mid-thigh and below waist height.
Always wear lifejackets when working on or above deep or fast flowing water.
Do not work alone in water.
Ensure there is always someone on the banks to act in the event of an emergency.
Have ropes, poles, and lifebelts readily to hand to avoid others having to enter the water.
Plan rescue systems in advance.
Still water over waist deep or fast flowing water above knee height must not be worked in.
General manual handling All 5 Train all in safe lifting, carrying & moving techniques in and out of water Plan in advance any lifting of heavy or awkward items.
Use tool bags to carry small tools.
Advise all that wet materials are much heavier than their equivalent dry ones.
Designate people to load and unload tools.
Provide carrying aids, e.g. wheelbarrow.
Have materials delivered as close to site as possible.
Clear route any stone or materials are to be carried over.
Heavy items will be carried between two people.
Limit number of tools any one individual carries.
Wear thick protective gloves when handling stone.
Manoeuvre large stone into place using crowbars, and at least two people.
Provide strong hessian/other material to enable sharing of transportation of large stones. If sustained, repetitive or very heavy manual handling is to be carried out, a detailed Manual Handling Assessment will be undertaken.
Movement around and in water must not be rushed, walk slowly.
Provide grab lines/ropes and non-slip planks.
Tread carefully on gravel banks.
Use safe access points to water, avoiding steep banks.
Slips, trips and falls All 5 Inspect site and clear/mark inherent trip hazards. Keep site, tools and materials tidy.
Sturdy footwear with a firm grip must be worn.
Cover any dug holes or cross ditches to prevent falls.
Leave site clear of material and debris at all times when it is unattended.
Cordon off working area, divert path users around work and provide signs and barrier tape to warn path users of work in progress.
Movement around and in water must not be rushed, walk slowly.
Provide grablines/ropes and non-slip planks
Tread carefully on gravel banks
Use safe access points to water avoiding steep banks.
Contact with micro-organisms inc. Tetanus, Leptospirosis All 4 Follow good hygiene practice, ensuring hands are washed before eating, drinking or smoking. Do not drink or wash hands in stream or pond water, use clean water and antibacterial wash/soap solution.
Wash hands before eating, drinking or smoking.
Wear strong rubber gloves and use barrier cream.
Cover all cuts with waterproof plasters.
Advise participants to have Tetanus inoculation.
Advise of symptoms of Leptospirosis*, Hepatitis A and others
Dust and stone chips All 4 Any stone trimming to be done downwind of other workers.
Wear impact resistant goggles, BS EN 166, if cutting or trimming stone.
Work with back to wind.
Stone rolling free All 4 Plan movement of stone to avoid taking it uphill of other workers or walkers. Where stone is collected from or moved uphill of path and workers, halt work, post lookouts and prevent public access to danger area until stone is in place.
Use ropes and slings to control movement of large stone.
Cement, mortar & concrete use All 3 Mix concrete and mortar away from others on site
Mix down wind of workers, and person mixing to stand upwind when adding cement.
Goggles to be worn to prevent cement dust in eyes.
Cover exposed skin and wash off any dust or wet mortar immediately. For prolonged use a COSHH assessment must be done using all guidance on the product, including the Material Safety Data Sheet.
Public access Public 3 Cordon off working area, divert path users around work and provide signs and barrier tape to warn path users of work in progress.
Use of small boats All 3 Do not overload boat with people or materials. Only competent swimmers to work from boats.
Only trained competent persons to be in charge of a boat.
Work from opposite sides to avoid tipping over and carry spare oars, bailer and rope.
If boat is to be taken more than 50 metres from shore, undertake detailed assessment for work and control measures.
Weather All 3 Avoid exposing skin even when some cloud cover exists. High factor sun block to be used.
Extra clothing as appropriate for the terrain and conditions to be carried, noting details on local precautions.
Stop work promptly if people are ill attired for conditions, in discomfort or the work is increasing in risk.
Contact with sharp or swinging tools All 3 Do not use when handles are wet and slippery.
Do not wear gloves when using swinging tools.
Ensure a firm, stable stance.
Keep guards and covers on tools when not in use.
Instruct volunteers in safe working distances appropriate to tools and task - see BTCV booklet Hand Tools.
Contact with moving traffic All 2 Unloading and reloading of vehicle will be arranged so people and materials/ tools are well clear, of passing traffic.
For roadside unloading place cones or tape & signs according to guidance in "New Roads and Streetworks' from Stationary Office. Erect signs warning of work hazards! preventing access on
approaches to site.
Post a lookout able to halt work.
Leave a vehicle parked on site able to leave quickly in case of emergency.
All workers to wear high visibility jackets which include two reflective bands of material.
All workers using/crossing the public highway to ware high visibility clothing and to take due care .
Dead animals All 2 Dead animals should be touched only when absolutely necessary and then with extreme caution and wearing rubber gauntlets.
Wash hands and arms immediately afterwards with anti-bacterial soap.
Disinfect all protective clothing that may have come into contact with the corpse.
Inform Environment Agency or equivalent before disposing of the corpse.
Food borne illness All 2 Ensure any cuts are protected from contact with food. Mugs to be clean and fit for use.
Ensure sufficient water, soap and drying facilities are available and instruct all to wash hands before eating, drinking or smoking.
If food is being prepared on site a separate and detailed risk assessment must be undertaken and implemented.
Airborne particles All 1 Wear impact resistant goggles, BS EN 166, if cutting or trimming stone. Work with back to wind.
Contact with pre-treated timber All 1 Only use air-dried, pre-treated timber.
Wear protective gloves when handling treated timber.
Wash hands before eating, drinking or smoking.
Wear goggles if using chisel or electric drill to protect from splinters.
Do not burn treated wood, dispose of waste in appropriate facility (ask local Environmental Health Officer if unsure).
Exposure to harmful substances All 1 If there is any concern over content of water, have water tested before working in it.
Do not work on any site where sewage is known to be present.
If hazardous substances are found, stop work and report to the Environment Agency or equivalent
Submerged objects All 1 Carry out a survey of the work area and mark out soft spots, sudden drops, etc. Use corrugated iron 'duck boards to prevent sinking into mud.
Wear sturdy footwear, with sole and toe protection.
Wear sturdy rubber gloves, unless using swinging tools.
Contact with plant sap All 1 Identify any hazardous plants on site visits e.g. hogweed, wild carrot. Plan work to avoid contact with hazardous plants.
Wear long sleeves and trousers when working close to hazardous plants.
Wear protective gloves.
Wash exposed skin thoroughly after any skin contact, and before drinking, eating or smoking.
Contact with underground services: electricity, gas, water All 0 Check with landowner and services maps obtained from utilities companies before starting work.
Ask utility to identify on site and mark line of service, avoid digging within.
In high risk urban areas. use CAT scanner to identify any services that utilities are not able to do so.
If digging within 5m of line, use only wooden handled spades.
Watch for buried marker tape indicating pipe or cable and then dig to side and not over the marked area.
Follow guidance in HSG 47 "Avoiding danger from underground services"

 

Notes:

Taken from the BTCV "Generic Risk Assessments"

Relative Risk Level - 5 = high, 3 = medium, 1 = low, 0 = none All = everyone involved in the operation

* Leptospirosis (Weil's Disease)

2 Forms Infected rats and their urine, Cattle (not relevant to the SMPPA)
Infection Through cuts and scratches and contact with the eyes, mouth and throat
Sources Sewers, infected rats urine
Symptoms Starts like flu with persistent headache
Protection Cover any cuts or abrasions, wear wellington boots, cover hands and wash before eating & drinking.

 

Return to top  

Site Map

© Slipper Mill Pond Preservation Association

Contents