Sciennes Playground Risk Assessment April 2016

RISK ASSESSMENT Department

Communities & Families

Unit/Section

Sciennes Primary School

Date of assessment What is the activity?

20.04.16

Assessor(s)

Margaret Westwood / Angela Christie

Children’s Play

Where is the activity carried out?

Sciennes Playground Play Landscape

What are the hazards?

Falling from timber sleeper wall to the surface below.

GRA(v1): March 2016

Who might be harmed and how?

What are you already doing?

What further action is necessary?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

Children may fall from the wall during busy periods. They may play a game of attempting to push each other off, which may lead to an unprepared child being pushed off, deliberately or accidentally. Injuries sustained may involve broken bones and complex fractures.

An impact attenuating surface (IAS) has been installed at the base of the wall which complies with the dimensional requirements of EN 1176. The primary purpose of IAS is to protect the head in the event of a fall – it may also reduce the severity of other injuries.

Head injuries could be sustained if falling upon the timber edging.

The condition of the gravel is monitored to ensure the gravel remains topped up to acceptable levels and that no hard objects have been placed into the gravel.

BM/SSO

Ongoing

Supervisors monitor the children’s behaviour and consider intervention when boisterous activity is combined with high numbers of users.

Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

Done

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What are you already doing?

Children may run and trip or fall into or onto the boulders which run along the fence line and the macadam playing surface

Children running into the boulders or tripping and colliding with the boulders, especially head first. Sharp edges are commonplace in the built environment, in places such as the corner of the school building where children can run past and fall into the wall, but the boulders are placed such that children are more likely to encounter them.

The edges of all boulders and rocks on site have been rounded off to a radius of 3mm or more so that the energy of any possible impact is spread over a wider part of the body. There are no nibs or protrusions greater than 8mm.

Supervisors monitor the children’s behaviour and consider intervention when boisterous activity is combined with high numbers of users.

Children discuss and visit the playground with a teacher at beginning of the school year. Playground behaviour is included in weekly assemblies

The open site may lead to sand blowing in children’s eyes in windy conditions and loose material ending up on the macadam playing surface.

Children may get sand in their eyes when the We monitor the sand blowing in windy wind is blowing. conditions and move the children from the area when the wind is particularly Children may slip on sand on the macadam troublesome. surface. This is especially of concern adjacent to the boulders edging the Children will be brought inside in particularly macadam surface, where the sand is most strong winds. likely to accumulate.

The sand is swept from the macadam surface as required to ensure it does not become slippery.

GRA(v1): March 2016

What further action is necessary?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

HT

Ongoing

Duty SMT Officer

Ongoing as required

Duty SMT Officer

Ongoing as required

SSO Ongoing as required

Done

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What are you already doing?

Falling from the rocks whilst climbing them or whilst playing on the tunnel mound.

Children may fall from the wall during busy periods when there is competition for space.

An impact attenuating surface (IAS) has been installed at the base of the rocks and on the mound. One rock at the base of the other climbing rocks has been removed to ensure that falling children are more likely to land in the gravel pit. The rocks at the base of the mound have been rounded

Climbing is inherently safe as children tend to concentrate in order to maintain their own balance and maintain three points of contact but when standing at the top or when competing with other children they are more likely to be pushed off and fall on the rocks below.

Dynamic risk assessment by supervisors and any required action taken – for example, discussing play that has potential for calamity with children so they adjust their behaviour if necessary, particularly around tunnels.

The condition of the gravel is monitored to ensure the gravel remains topped up to acceptable levels and that no hard objects have been placed into the gravel.

Children may fall from the tyre climbing walls next to the tunnel entrance to the surface below.

GRA(v1): March 2016

Children may fall from the wall during busy periods when there is competition for space.

Climbing is inherently safe as children tend to concentrate in order to maintain their own balance and maintain three points of contact, but when standing at the top or when competing with other children they are more likely to be pushed off and fall on the gravel.

What further action is necessary?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

SSO/BM

Ongoing as required

SSO/BM

Ongoing

SSO

Ongoing

An impact attenuating surface is already in place. This is primarily to protect the head in the event of a fall, but it may reduce the severity of other injuries.

The condition of the gravel is monitored to ensure the gravel remains topped up to acceptable levels and that no hard objects have been placed into the gravel.

Done

The condition of the gravel is monitored periodically during out of school hours opening to ensure it remains suitably topped up and free of hard objects.

What are the hazards?

Children attempting to climb to the top of the vertical poles (3 units installed) and falling once atop the pole

Who might be harmed and how?

What are you already doing?

Children attempting to climb to the top of the vertical poles (3 units installed) and falling once atop the pole.

An impact attenuating surface is already in place. This is primarily to protect the head in the event of a fall, but it may reduce the severity of other injuries.

The loose parts logs may be used by children not currently capable of climbing the poles as a ladder to gain access to higher parts

The condition of the gravel is monitored to ensure the gravel remains topped up to acceptable levels and that no hard objects have been placed into the gravel.

Supervisors will monitor the capabilities of children climbing to the top of the vertical poles.

During out of school hours use, the loose parts will be removed from the site to storage.

Children may run and trip or fall into or onto the stone slabs of the amphitheatre.

Children running into the stone slabs or tripping and colliding with the stone slabs, especially head first.

Non-rounded edges and corners of stone slabs present a risk of serious injury, although the likelihood of hitting head first is low, but the severity of injury is high.

What further action is necessary?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

BM/SSO

Ongoing

Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

SSO/ Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

The stone slabs are clear and patent to users and away from running routes, so the speed of children is already reduced before they arrive.

The edges of the stone slabs have been rounded to 3mm or greater so that the energy of any possible impact is spread over a wider part of the body.

Ongoing

GRA(v1): March 2016

Done

Playground Supervisors

Supervisors monitor the children’s behaviour and consider intervention if boisterous activity is combined with high numbers of users.

What are the hazards?

Falling from timber tower structure to the gravel surface below.

Who might be harmed and how?

Children may fall from the timber tower structure’s deck, especially during busy periods. The numbers of children may lead to pushing, either accidental or deliberate, leading to falls to the surface below.

What are you already doing?

What further action is necessary?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

An impact attenuating surface (IAS) has been installed all around the structure complying with EN 1176. The primary purpose of IAS is to protect the head in the event of a fall – it may also reduce the severity of other injuries.

Guardrails are installed at all relevant places on the deck to prevent accidental falls.

Signage indicates the equipment is not suitable for children under 4 years.

Supervisors monitor the children’s behaviour and consider intervention if boisterous activity is combined with high numbers of users.

Falling from timber logs onto hard structures.

Wood becoming slippy with a build up of algae

Children may fall from timber logs onto hard parts of the Nature Strip infrastructure, such as the fence.

The risk of falling may increase if there is a build up of algae and the logs are slippy

The logs are reasonably low, such that falls from excessive height are not likely.

The general surface is grass, which is suitable for falls from up to 1.5 metres.

Edges of logs have been chamfered.

GRA(v1): March 2016

Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

Done

Ensure that the fence is in good repair with no protrusions.

Carry out dynamic risk assessments to ensure logs are kept free of algae.

What are the hazards?

Children slipping in icy conditions, especially around or on or from rocks, boulders and raised structures.

Who might be harmed and how?

What are you already doing?

What further action is necessary?

BM/SSO

Ongoing

BM/SSO

Ongoing

Action by whom?

Action by when?

Children may fall from height, such as from the timber sleeper wall or the timber tower structure.

Procedural recording of daily inspections and dynamic risk assessment has been put in place with actions recorded.

BM/ Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

Children may slip onto rocks and boulders, with risk of injury, especially head injury.

The need to grit/salt surfaces is identified before children are allowed to play and a record is kept of this assessment.

BM/SSO

Ongoing

It is ensured that any ice is removed from around and on the boulders and rocks.

Gritting/salting is carried out.

SSO

Ongoing

SSO

Ongoing as required

A build up of water may freeze under appropriate conditions, leading to increased likelihood of slipping on, from or into the boulders and rocks.

The drainage has been improved at the boundary edge between the macadam surface and boulders.

The playground is made out of bounds when it is not possible to provide effective gritting/salting, including out of school hours periods. The gates will be locked on evenings/weekends if necessary due to weather conditions.

GRA(v1): March 2016

Done

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

Damaged or otherwise defective equipment leading to hazardous conditions.

Broken or loose equipment may cause injury in a variety of ways, especially due to parts which the children cannot see are broken.

What are you already doing?

What further action is necessary?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

Procedural recording of daily inspection and dynamic risk assessment has been put in place with actions recorded.

BM

Ongoing

We have an effective inspection and maintentance regime which includes:

BM/SSO/ Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

BM

As required

 

Routine visual inspections carried out daily and weekly to ensure the equipment remains in suitable condition.

Quarterly operational and annual main inspection systems in accordance with EN 1176-7:2008.

We have consulted with suppliers on maintenance requirements.

If or when any defects are found, repairs will be carried out within reasonable timescales.

The Business Manager has received training in inspection and risk assessment.

GRA(v1): March 2016

Done

Playground Safety at Sciennes brief for all staff has been prepared and distributed.

Children are encouraged to report faults.

Playground information is included in weekly assemblies. .

What are the hazards?

Dropping items onto children, or throwing items at children, or using loose items to stack and climb.

Tripping and slipping on loose parts.

Who might be harmed and how?

Unsuspecting targets of deliberate or accidental dropping or throwing.

Falling from excessive height onto hard objects and surfaces.

Tripping over loose parts and falling onto hard parts

What are you already doing?

GRA(v1): March 2016

Action by when?

Playground staff have received dynamic risk assessment and loose parts training.

Supervisors are aware of the risks and provide suitable guidance to children.

Children bumping into each other during the normal course of play, or pushing each other from standing surfaces at height.

Action by whom?

Playground Safety at Sciennes brief for all staff has been prepared and distributed.

Storage for loose parts has been provided.

We remove the loose parts during out of school hours use.

The playground is small for the number of children using it, which may lead to general knocks, bumps and slips and trips

What further action is necessary?

Split playtime sessions reduce the numbers of children on the playground at one time.

The play opportunities available have reduced the amount of running, and associated collisions.

Playground Supervisors

As required

Playground Supervisors/ SSO

Ongoing

Done

Playground Supervisors

Supervisors are in place and are aware of the risks and provide suitable guidance to children.

Ongoing

A brief on playground safety at Sciennes has been prepared and distributed to all staff.

Pupils also receive information and guidance on playground risks during assemblies.

What are the hazards?

Contamination of the sand

Who might be harmed and how?

Children could become ill or injured by coming into contact with mould, faeces or glass

What are you already doing?

Daily Dynamic Risk assessment carried out by school staff.

What further action is necessary?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

BM/Playground Supervisors

Ongoing

SSO/BM

As required

The sand is uncovered therefore air can circulate freely, and sand is washed by rain, reducing the likelihood of contamination by mould.

Children are encouraged to report anything they see that concerns them.

If found, contamination is removed immediately followed by disinfecting if required.

Consideration will be given to covering the sand with netting should contamination by animal faeces become a recurring problem.

GRA(v1): March 2016

HT/BM As required

Done

Falling on macadam area through course of play

Children colliding can sustain head or other injuries.

Introduction of play landscape to encourage different styles of play means reduction in just running/ racing games.

Introduction of loose play encourages different style of active play.

Manager’s name

Alison Noble

Signature

A Noble

Date

21st April 2016

Assessment review date

July 2016

Are other specific risk assessments required?

Asbestos Electricity Manual Handling Personal Protective Equipment Work Equipment

GRA(v1): March 2016

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Fire Safety New and Expectant Mothers Stress Management Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare

Display Screen Equipment Lone Working Noise Vibration Working at Height