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Risk Management for school visits

Taking learning from inside to outside the classroom has great benefits but will inevitably introduce hazards which are not present in a classroom environment. Risk management is not about eliminating risk – it is about reducing it to as low as reasonably practicable and deciding if this is acceptable in order to gain the potential benefits. This is recognised by both the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Education (DfE)

When planning fieldwork, it is important to consider the hazards and the risk (likelihood) of them occurring, and what can be done to mitigate these risks to an acceptable level in order that we can still gain the benefits.  It is sensible to be very clear about why the fieldwork is being carried out and what are the benefits. Tim Gill has written several articles on the importance of a balanced view of benefit and risk in children’s play.

What is an ‘acceptable’ level of risk and what is ‘reasonably practicable’ in mitigation are clearly open to interpretation. It is always important to have your employer’s approval of your plans and to be aware of what is the norm in other similar institutions with students of similar age and experience.  Seeking expert advice through subject associations such as the RGS-IBG or an Outdoor Education Adviser  is a good step if unsure.

Some links to key sources of information and advice:

• DfE:  Health and safety: responsibilities and duties for schools
• HSE:  School trips and outdoor learning activities
• HSE:  ALARP "at a glance"
• HSE:  Managing risks and risk assessment at work
• OEAP:  4.3c Risk Management - an Overview
• OEAP:  4.3f Risk Management - Some Practical Advice
• OEAP:  4.3g Risk Management - What to Record and How

The risk management process

All the factors listed below are part of the overall ‘risk management’ for a planned visit. It is important that the written risk assessment is seen just one part of this process and not the whole.

• Competence of lead staff member and accompanying staff –  their specific experience and any relevant training and qualifications
• Planning – choice of location, itinerary and activities and a pre-visit if appropriate
• Awareness of best-practice and any Standard Operating Procedures for the planned activities
• Written risk assessment produced by the visit leader and approved by a specifically competent person – usually the School EVC and/or Outdoor Adviser and shared with accompanying staff and the content accepted and understood by them.
• Preparation of the group and staff – kit lists, codes of conduct, pre-trip meetings with students and parents, briefings for staff, briefings for the group on the key parts of the risk assessment.
• Ongoing during the event -  monitoring and dynamic risk management – implementation of a plan B if required
• Post-event - review and evaluation to inform future planning
• Where the risk is likely to be greater, or perceived to be greater, than that of everyday life in the UK then then obtaining parental consent and the use of codes of conduct and participation statements are both sensible. When parental consent is required should be clearly set out in your institutions policy for visits. A participation statement or code of conduct is for the pupil to complete to acknowledge that they have a role in their own safety and that of the group. Codes of conduct are a useful tool for reminders about following instructions, reporting any concerns, looking after others. An example code of conduct.
• Read more about involving students with risk sssessment

The written risk assessment

Risk assessment and Standard Operating Procedures

It is useful to have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) - often termed ‘generic risk assessments’ - for offsite visits. SOPs ensure consistency and set the standard for your organisation. Standard operating procedures are what you expect staff to do,  define good practice, and act as a checklist for staff. They are best written by staff with specific competence and experience and can then be ‘finessed’ over time.

SOPs become a specific risk assessment when edited with content specific to the planned visit.

Without SOPs is it likely that the final risk assessments for two identical trips from the same establishment could look very different depending on the author’s experience and priorities. At worst there could be significant content present in one and not in the other.

An example of editing an SOP to become a specific risk assessment would be identifying the nearest medical facilities to the destination (in the UK) using NHS service search and any specific risks at the destination such as a difficult road crossing or potentially challenging weather conditions. If working with an external provider then links can be added to their safety management system.

Many organisations will have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) headed ‘all trips’ ‘all transport’ and ‘all accommodation’ (see downloads for examples). These will have the main issues/hazards and best-practice descriptions of controls and how the controls are checked. For an ‘all trips suggested  headings are given in the section below. This aligns with HSE recommendations that risk assessments address the most common/significant risks first.

What to include in the written risk assessment

The headings below are likely to be required in any risk assessment for School visits.

• Safeguarding
• Supervision - direct, indirect or remote
• Environment specific - water/weather etc
• Activity specific – Adventure Activities/Data Collection
• Visit emergencies

Staff can then edit the content to be specific to their trip. For example, by adding the location of the closest Accident and Emergency facility to their accommodation;  links to safety management systems of providers, etc.

It is useful to remember the term ‘Common things occur commonly’ and plan for what is reasonably foreseeable to be a problem if overlooked.

Road traffic, medical emergency, safeguarding and any periods where supervision is difficult should always be present in risk assessments.

The risk assessment for a specific visit should be dated and should include the name of the author.

The Process

Identify the hazard > the control measures required to mitigate the risk > how the control measures will be confirmed in place/checked.

Example : Transport in a coach

• Hazard - collision with another vehicle/object causing injury to coach passenger
• Mitigation/Control measure - Seatbelt to be worn at all times
• How the control measure is implemented - oral reminder from staff and visual check from rear to front of coach. Given at the start of the journey and repeated after each stop.

Current advice is not to include numerical ‘scores’ for likelihood and severity in risk assessments. The example above shows how difficult it would be to add numbers for likelihood and severity. Likelihood of a coach accident is very low but the likelihood of someone unfastening their seatbelt during a journey is higher. How much lower is this likelihood after a verbal and visual reminder?  Severity of accident –could be minor to catastrophic? Overall risk rating is likely to be different for every passenger (due to their likelihood to follow instructions about seatbelt wearing) and an overall ‘score’ is arbitrary and of very little practical use.

Format of the risk assessment

There is no requirement to have a risk assessment in a particular format.

A simple, clear format prioritising the hazards and their controls and how the controls are to be monitored is recommended.

Beware of creating a format which has empty columns and tick boxes which may not be completed as this can then appear to be an oversight or lack of care.

Numbers in risk assessments

There is a common format of risk assessment which involves scoring risk and likelihood/severity of outcome and having the resulting risk rated ‘high, medium or low’ with an outcome below a certain number being seen as ‘acceptable’. Trying to apply such subjective ‘measures’ of risk to a group of young people, all of whom behave differently in different circumstances, may suggest an unreal level of certainty, and cloud the practical issues that need to be managed. The final decision must be that the risk for each participant can be kept within ‘acceptable’ levels. It is important for a risk assessment to be undertaken by a competent person, and for the written record to be dated, and to indicate who completed it.

There is a move nationally towards removing Likelihood/Severity grids from risk assessments as they can be a source of inconsistency and confusion.

• The HSE no longer show risk matrices as examples of best practice re the format of risk assessments.
• Safesmart:  The Problem with Risk Scores and a Risk Matrix
• David Ball, Risk Management:  Further thoughts on the utility of risk matrices

Risk categorisation of visits

Categorising trips according to ‘risk’ can be misleading and is therefore not recommended.. Most significant risks are the same for any trip – medical emergency, road traffic, failure of supervision and then any specific environmental or activity related risks – water, weather, periods of indirect or remote supervision and activities which will always have a ‘higher than everyday life’ residual risk – mountain biking and downhill skiing for example.

Staff should be aware that most accidents happen on perceived low risk activities.

For example, a ‘low risk’ – urban geography data collection activity could have a high risk of pupil being lost/separated from a group if managed poorly.

Effective Supervision using SAGE/STAGED

A key aim in managing risk is to ensure the effective supervision of the group and this is a more helpful concept than a set of staffing ratios which takes no account of the specific needs of the group or the competence/experience of the supervising staff.

For Early Years Foundation stage there are mandatory ratios and your employer may have published minimum ratios for trips either as a strict policy or for guidance.

When looking at how to achieve ‘effective supervision’ OEAP National Guidance uses the acronym SAGED and it is also often extended to STAGED:

• Staffing – relevant training/qualifications/experience and number required
• Transport – complexity added by any specific transport issues – public transport, walking to venue etc
• Activities – what are the group doing? Do these require specifically competent qualified staff. Any indirect or remote supervision?
• Group – prior experience, behaviour and any specific needs
• Environment – easily accessible or more remote? Urban/Rural. The potential impact of the weather
• Distance -  how far from base and the direct assistance of supporting staff if required – can vary from minutes to many hours. Access to emergency medical help

A reluctance to adapt plans and move to a plan B can be a red flag regarding the likelihood of things going wrong.

Some reasonably foreseeable ‘what-ifs’ should be included in your planning and how you would adapt your plans should one or more of these occur. It is good practice to include a plan B in your risk assessment. Plan B can be to not run the venture on that day with that group.

Some examples:

• Environmental conditions – too hot, cold, wet, or windy for the activities to take place as planned.
• Medical/illness issue – one member of staff is required to look after a student who is ill during the trip
• Road traffic delays mean you are very behind schedule
• Water – always be aware of the rapidly changing nature of moving water
• Group maturity/behaviour is such that a planned period of indirect supervision would cause you concern

A ‘what-if’ meeting with the group can be a good way of including students in the risk management process. What -if - you get separated from the group -feel unwell - are not happy about an activity etc.

Outdoor and Adventurous Education

It is important that staff leading outdoor activities are suitably qualified and experienced. This may be achieved in three ways

• Working with an external provider who provides staff with the technical expertise
• The staff from the School holding appropriate qualifications
• An ‘statement of competence’ obtained from an Outdoor Adviser who has observed the staff running an activity.

Find out more:

• OEAP:  6h FAQs: Adventure activity qualifications 
• Mountain Training:  Mountain Training’s qualification matrices for climbing and walking led activity

Working with external providers

The National Guidance documents explain the use of the LOtC quality badge, AALA licence, and what questions to ask a provider and where the responsibilities lie. The norm is that all technical and activity specific responsibility lies with the provider, and School staff assist with supervision and have pastoral responsibility.

• OEAP: . 4g Selecting External Providers and Facilities
• OEAP:  4.4h Using External Providers

Quality Badges

A provider holding a quality badge can be seen as part of the risk management process. This may be financial risk in the case of bonding or safeguarding and safety assurance through the award of other badges.

There are a number of relevant badge schemes.

The AALA licence is required in law in the UK for certain adventure activities

The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge is held by a wide range of providers and venues

Adventuremark is a non-statutory safety scheme devised by the Adventure Activity Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) for providers of adventurous activities that are outside the scope of the Adventure Activity Licensing regulations.

There is very little to be gained by asking badge-holding external providers for copies of their risk assessments. This OEAP document explains the reasons for this and gives better questions to ask.

A Pre departure meeting

For residential trips, a face-to-face pre-departure meeting with the EVC and the trip leader and assistant is recommended. The EVC should also meet with any staff prior to leading their first day trip. This can be done for several trips in one meeting.

Meeting agenda – the ‘what-ifs’

• Base contact information – when to contact your emergency contact
• Parent contact information – when to contact parents
• Emergency information and what to do should something go wrong – importance of written record.
• A range of scenarios can be covered - What if? questions - medical, missing person
• Student use of phones/social media should an incident occur
• Importance of implementing the written risk assessment
• Insurance contact and claims - info needed
• Common things – medical/road traffic/missing person/low periods of supervision/reluctance to go to plan B
• Any issues of concern re the students – itinerary/medical/behaviour

Post visit evaluation

Have a system where all staff on a trip can feedback information but the leader is responsible for completion. There have been examples nationally of visit leaders reporting back that all was fine when other staff have had concerns. Occasional sampling of other trip staff and students for feedback is recommended – particularly for trips with a stable staff which have run for several years.

The key parts in an evaluation are:

• Any significant pastoral/safeguarding issues?
• Any near-misses or accidents
• Any medical issues/illness?
• Any behavioural issues?  
• Any significant issues with the itinerary? eg suggested activities/venues not appropriate. Accommodation unsafe etc
• Would you run the trip again in its present form?

Why things go wrong and how to avoid the traps

It is important to accept that accidents will be happen and not all accidents are avoidable.

Research has been done in the mountain guiding and outdoor adventure activities communities on the causes of accidents and how some of these can be avoided. Many of these factors also apply to School trips and fieldwork. Two key theories are heuristic traps and lemons – there are many articles on the web – the original sources of this work are linked below.

• Heuristic Traps in Recreational Avalanche Accidents: Evidence and Implications
• Teachers Talking About Their Epics: Near misses in outdoor education

Heuristic traps

Heuristics are ‘short-cuts’ taken, often based on prior experience and/or learned behaviour. They can become  excuses used to avoid a full assessment of risk and if this is  the case they become ‘heuristic traps’

Over-commitment to a goal – staying with the plan A even though there are signals that this is the wrong plan.

Familiarity – have been there and done the activity several times before and it has always been OK in the past. Perhaps this is the first time the SAGED variables (see above) are significantly different!

Scarcity – the one chance to do it! Perhaps coursework depends on that data? An exam case-study is based around that location.

Social proof – others have done it so it must be OK. Perhaps they got away with it or had a greater skill-set!

Learning point

Always be cautious of justifying a decision based on any of the points above.

Lemons are any factor that combined with the presence of another, can lead to an accident. An anlage similar to the lemons on a slot machine.

There are three types of lemons – unavoidable, avoidable, and rare/unusual.

Unavoidable – late arrival at start of walking route due to a traffic delay

Avoidable - to save time an oral group kit check is done by the leader rather than seeing key items of kit.

Rare and unusual – close to the summit a team member sprains ankle on an awkward step. Group call for help and Mountain Rescue on their way.

Unavoidable – colder weather and rain was forecast late in the day but the leader thought they would be finished well in advance of this.

Avoidable - Several of the group have no waterproof clothing with them but this wasn’t spotted by kit check.

Avoidable – a number of the group now cold and wet

Leaders and groups can be trained to ‘spot lemons’ and prevent them adding up into a significant problem or incident.

The use of Checklists is a powerful way to prevent being caught by heuristic traps and lemons. Much work has been done studying the use of checklists in aviation and how this approach can be helpful in other stressful environments where there is the temptation to attempt to multi-task.

See ‘The checklist manifesto’ by Atul Gawande and the recent work based on Crew Resource Management in aviation by James Thacker IFMGA Mountain Guide.

Example risk assessments

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Guide to Construction Site Visits

Resource Names:

• A Guide to Organising a Construction Site Visit
• A Site Visit Workbook
• Site Visit Arrangement Sheet (editable)

Resource Descriptor:

These resources provide a range of information, advice and guidance including a workbook, checklists, FAQ to support employers hosting a construction site visit and those who are intending to visit a construction site.

Resource Aims:

The information and advice in the guide aims to help both parties in the planning stages and on the day of the site visit to ensure that it is both meaningful and successful.  

Any parties who may be organising a construction site visit including:

• Education & Learning Providers
• Jobcentre Plus

Further Information:

Please see the Resource Cover sheet which provides an overview of the resource.

Download all documents for Guide to Construction Site Visits

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Top pre-construction risk assessment techniques.

Before you get involved in any construction or renovation project, you need to go through a pre-construction stage to take stock of the client’s building requirements, develop an initial design, and lay out the scope of the job for the client so they know exactly what will happen from start to finish. Any construction project also requires safety measures, especially where construction will affect building occupants. That’s why any projects for hospitals, clinics, or care facilities require pre-construction risk assessment (PCRA) as part of pre-construction planning.

Table of Contents

Automating Pre-construction Risk Assessment

PCRA is required for any construction, renovation, or maintenance work done in hospitals or healthcare facilities, which means contractors need to develop a detailed list of safety requirements before they can begin. The traditional methodology is to use spreadsheets to review and track safety activities, which is only one step above using a handheld clipboard. There is too much room for error, which can result in non-compliance. A better strategy is to use a centralized, cloud-based system that is part of the pre-construction workflow.

What Is Pre-construction Risk Assessment?

The Joint Commission maintains the standards for patient safety in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities, including the criteria for pre-construction risk assessment. It lays out the specific requirements for PRCA in Standard EC.02.06.05 , which is part of the Environment of Care Standard for safety and health management.

Compliance with PRCA standards is an essential part of pre-construction to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It requires maintaining a complex list of safety protocols and procedures that have to be followed, and each task has to be documented. The list is extensive and includes specifics relating to air quality, infection control, noise, vibration, and other potential hazards.

The Joint Commission has an eight-step process that they recommend for PRCA compliance:

• Create a detailed description of the project so you can identify potential risks.
• Look at the areas around the project that could be impacted, and assess risk.
• Detail the type of construction activity, which will make it easier to list potential hazards.
• Determine what control activities are required to prevent infection.
• Identify other potential risks beyond infection, such as noise or dust.
• List the steps you plan to take to mitigate risks other than infection (i.e., those listed in Step 5).
• Complete the interim life safety measures (ILSM) assessment, and choose the safety measures you need to implement.
• Monitor construction to ensure that you continue to use appropriate safety measures.

The more details there are in the PRCA list, the more room there is for error, especially if you are tracking each step manually. It’s too easy for something to fall through the cracks.

The Challenge of Using Spreadsheets

While you may think using spreadsheets is a logical and comprehensive way to manage pre-construction risk assessments, they pose a number of problems:

• Incorrect documentation: Any PRCA checklist will go through multiple revisions. Trying to match a spreadsheet to changing risk assessment requirements may cause you to overlook something.
• Version control: Even if you store data in a central data repository like the cloud, there is always a risk of losing track of the latest version. Someone could overwrite the file by mistake or duplicate it to support another process.
• Incorrect data entry: Entering outdated or inaccurate information is always a possibility. Often, those types of entries are never spotted until it’s too late. The larger the project, the more likely there will be data entry issues.
• Deleted data and incorrect formulas: When you have multiple managers or departments working on the same project, data gets deleted and formulas get corrupted. Even naming one manager to control data entry won’t eliminate errors.

If you fail a safety audit due to sloppy bookkeeping, you can face a hefty fine, so maintaining an accurate checklist is essential if you want to comply with EC.02.06.05.

Pre-construction Best Practices

The best way to maintain an accurate PRCA process is by using automation . You need to start with a single data repository so everyone has access to the same information. Then, you have to maintain tight controls over shared reports.

PRCA requires a project management strategy, just like any other aspect of construction. By using a cloud-based software platform, you can integrate data and processes from all involved departments, including infection control, facilities management, safety, clinical engineering, and compliance. Automating the workflow speeds up approval time and is more accurate, eliminating errors and data duplication. It also simplifies documentation to prove standards compliance.

In addition to streamlining PRCA procedures, automated processes can be integrated with other business systems and software, simplifying tasks such as project bidding, workforce management, and managing bills of materials.

ProEst is the ideal platform for PRCA automation, providing a cloud-based project management solution for collaboration and accurate documentation. It eliminates errors, provides real-time access to checklists and procedures, and saves you time and money.

Importance of conducting a pre-construction risk assessment 

Just like an accident, nobody likes construction risks. That’s why ensuring every risk is assessed and dealt with before construction begins is essential.

Imagine you are contracted to create a project, and the final project on-site turns out to be hazardous or even collapses due to a lack of proper risk assessment.

Conducting a construction risk assessment helps find all at-risk areas, create awareness about the site’s risk, issue measures to avoid the risks, look if the risk has been dealt with, and then decide whether it’s safe to continue the construction process.

Here are some quick facts on why a pre-construction risk assessment is essential:

● One in every five worker fatalities in the United States is in the construction sector.

● 1,008 construction workers died on the job in 2020.

● Every year, 1% of construction workers miss work due to a severe injury.

● Fatal construction injuries are estimated to cost the United States five billion yearly in health care, lost income, production, etc.

● Workers’ compensation claims for nonfatal falls account for $2.5 billion

What should a construction risk assessment include?

A construction risk assessment should include four major things to work effectively:

Identifying hazards – Locate hazards on the site now and those that might arise during the project construction. Assess the risk – After finding the risky areas, assessing the situation before taking action is essential. Take time to know what the best and most effective solution should be. Identify actions – After you’ve assessed the hazards, find the most effective way to minimize or eradicate the risks found. Seeing a possible solution is very critical. You need answers that ensure the threat won’t be there again. Confirm corrections – After successfully dealing with the hazards or minimizing their occurrence again, it’s essential to check repeatedly to confirm whether the risk has been completely dealt with. Assuming and not checking the corrected errors is bad for business. Fatalities or severe injuries might occur due to that, so confirming your corrections is crucial

What are the four types of construction risk?

To avoid or eliminate this threat from happening, one should categorize the types of risks at the site and know how to manage them. Risks at a construction site are categorized into various types, but here are four major construction risks: Financial & economic ris k: This is one of the risks that could affect a construction process. These risks include investment and inflation issues, non-availability of funds, changes in currency exchange rates, changes in tax structures, changes in costs of stone and sand, etc. Design or technical risks : By technical, we mean everything that hinders you from achieving your client’s expectations. For example, things like the uncertainty of resources, availability of materials, or even preliminary designs can be very risky and commonly occur if there are changes in project scope or requirements and errors or omissions. Physical risk : Low procurement and unavailability of some materials, is lousy quality, or less quantity can also threaten a construction project. Other physical hazards affecting a project include harsh weather conditions, theft, and wastage. Contractual risks : People need to take this seriously. Still, things like unreliable time schedules, extra work, payment problems, claims, and even disputes, among others, can be complicated issues at a site hence delaying the construction process.

These are the four major risk areas you need to look at. Still, when categorizing your risk assessment, one should look at management(leadership or organizational) risks, legal and socio-political risks, and logistics risks.

About the Author

Related Posts

How to Conduct an Effective Construction Risk Assessment

by Brock Andony | Apr 25, 2022 | Uncategorized | 1 comment

Construction risk is a lot like being stuck at a red light. Nobody enjoys it, but you must overcome those red lights in order to reach your destination. That’s why conducting a thorough construction risk assessment is one of the best tactics available to contractors that are looking to minimize the threat of incident on their sites.

The article clarifies what a construction risk assessment is, how to conduct one on your projects, and provides readers with a free template that they can download and use in the future.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways What is a Construction Risk Assessment? Why Risk Assessment is Essential in Construction How to Conduct a Construction Risk Assessment in 4 Steps       1. Understand Your Duties as an Employer       2. Identify Risks On-Site       3. Evaluate Each Risk (and Prioritize Them)       4. Implement Controls (Where Necessary) When to Perform a Risk Assessment Construction Risk Assessment Template (Free Download) Conclusion

Key Takeaways

• A construction risk assessment helps determine at-risk parties, create awareness around the risks present on-site, assess current loss prevention measures in-place, ensure contract requirements are upheld , and decide if additional controls need to be instituted.
• Conduct a construction risk assessment in four easy steps: understand your duties as an employer, identify risks on your project, determine the impact of those risks, then implement control measures (if necessary)
• There are three points when construction risk assessments should be conducted: in the design phase, in response to process changes or the introduction of new equipment, or when a new hazard is identified.
• Download your free construction risk assessment template here.
• myComply is a construction workforce management solution that is proven to help contractors to reduce their risk exposure and secure insurance reductions by digitizing worker certifications, tracking manpower data, and offering access control options to prevent unqualified site access.

What is a Construction Risk Assessment?

A construction risk assessment is the calculated process of identifying project specific threats on a jobsite, then analyzing and evaluating each risk factor to determine the likelihood, impact, and repercussions of each of those variables.

A construction risk assessment should aim to achieve a couple of items:

• Determine who is at risk and what they are at-risk of, be they employees or site visitors
• Create awareness surrounding the risks/hazards identified
• Assess current risk prevention measures that are in-place to determine if they are sufficient or if further action needs to be taken
• Ensure that any (and all) legal requirements or contract requirements are being met regarding risk
• Decide if additional controls need to be implemented or if changes need to be made to your construction risk management strategy

Why a Risk Assessment is Essential in Construction

The construction sector is arguably the most dangerous and risky in the world. If you’re responsible for assessing and managing risk on a construction project, here are a few of the many reasons why your work is so essential:

• One in every five worker fatalities in the United States is in the construction sector.
• 1,008 construction workers died on the job in 2020.
• Every year, 1% of construction workers miss work due to a serious injury.
• Fatal construction injuries are estimated to cost the United States five billion each year in health care, lost income, lost production, etc.
• Workers’ compensation claims for nonfatal falls account for $2.5 billion

How to Conduct a Construction Risk Assessment in 4 Steps

Construction risk assessments don’t need to be overly complex. Collect past project data, determine what regulations you are bound by, begin identifying risks, prioritize them, then implement controls where deemed necessary.

1. Understand Your Duties as an Employer

As you craft your construction risk assessment strategy, you need to be aware of your duties as an employer, as outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as any state-specific legislation that may affect operations on your site.

Under OSHA, the key provisions that General Contractors need to be aware of are as follows:

• 29 CFR 1926 Standard
• Cranes and derricks standards and overview
• Confined spaces standards
• Trenching and excavation standards
• Silica (crystalline) standards
• The OSH Act of 1970

2. Identify Risks On-Site

There is no shortage of risk present on a construction project. General Contractors and Construction Managers must be aware of financial risks, environmental risks, safety risks, productivity risks, as well as document, legal, and contract risks.

With so much risk, it can be difficult to identify every hazard or threat to safety, productivity, or profitability. Fortunately, there are some steps that can be taken to help contractors to map risks across their projects:

• Consult a list of construction risks . It can be helpful to see what some of the most frequently assessed risks are on construction projects. Check out this list of construction risks to get you started.

Download your copy of the top 20 construction risks today!

• Refer to past project data. Documentation such as incident reports from previous projects can help you to predict the types of risks that your projects are generally prone to. Use your platform to mine this data.
• Anticipate unusual conditions. Are severe storms frequent in your area? What about power outages? It is better to be overprepared than caught off-guard by extreme or unusual conditions.
• Determine group-specific risks. For example, the workers employed by an electrical Subcontractor are going to be more susceptible to the risk of electrocution as compared to those employed by a concrete contractor.

Now, compile all your risks into a comprehensive list, including risk-specific details, such as:

• Risk description, including conditions/situations where the risk is prone to occur
• Risk response strategy (if one exists)
• Team members (or roles) responsible for managing risk

Once compiled, you are ready to assess each risk to determine priority and necessary controls.

3. Evaluate Each Risk (and Prioritize Them)

Now that you’ve identified the risks that you are anticipating on your project, it’s time to prioritize them by conducting a two-factor assessment. The two factors are:

• The potential impact on your business (dollar amounts)
• The chance of the risk materializing (percentage points)

Once you have determined the potential financial impacts of the risk (in dollars) and the chance of that risk occurring (based on previous project data), then you should plot each risk on a simple 5×5 grid, based on probability and impact.

How to use this grid to score risk:

• Use tangible dollar amounts and percentage points to assign a impact and likelihood score (1-5) for each risk.
• Plot your risk to one of the squares below
• Multiple your x-axis score by your y-axis score to get a total risk score (ex. impact = 4, likelihood = 2, total risk score = 8)

Once you’ve determined the highest-ranking risks, based on impact and likelihood, you can determine whether existing controls will be sufficient to manage risk or whether new controls will have to be instituted to reduce your risk exposure.

4. Implement Controls (Where Necessary)

If you are using our risk evaluation matrix, we suggest that you consider implementing or auditing controls on all risks that score higher than 10 (the orange region on the above diagram), based on the impact and likelihood criterion.

When implementing controls, there are four possible techniques that contractors can leverage:

• Avoid the risk. Not all risks can be avoided, but changes in the scope of work or selective project bidding can help to eliminate certain risk. For example, you may want to avoid bidding on multi-storey projects if you want to prevent the risk of workers falling from heights.
• Transfer the risk. This is the process of transferring the liability or responsibility of a risk to an external party. For example, most contractors enroll in workers’ compensation insurance to cover the costs of workers who are injured or become sick due to their work. General Contractors can also transfer some risk to their suppliers and Subcontractors.
• Mitigate the risk. Create plans or processes that eliminate the risk from the equation on your projects. For example, if you want to mitigate the risk of unwanted foot traffic entering your project site, then you may want to implement a construction site access control system in conjunction with a secure site perimeter.
• Accept the risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable in construction or may need to be embraced to stay on schedule or to prevent additional risk to workers. For example, extreme weather conditions could mean that work must be halted for a day or two on a project site to prevent any risk to worker safety. This could lead to delays on the project but may be deemed acceptable in exchange for the risk reduction to worker safety.

Some risks can be easily mitigated, others must be avoided or accepted, and some can be transferred to insurance providers and other entities. Use your discretion and your risk evaluation scoring to help you determine the best course of action for each risk on your project.

When to Perform a Risk Assessment

There are three circumstances which offer suitable opportunities to perform construction risk assessments on your construction project.

• During the design phase. The first opportunity for contractors to assess risk on their project is before work has begun. This is when potential hazards should be identified, circumstances that might invoke hazards, and when plans can be put in-place to prevent risk once work begins.
• Introduction of a new process or new equipment. Whenever new processes or new equipment are brought onto a project, it is wise for contractors to assess those changes accordingly. For example, if your project management team decided to launch a new online orientation process for workers, then it might be wise to conduct a risk assessment to evaluate the impacts of this change in process.
• Identification of a hazard. It’s not always possible to forecast or predict every risk that might be present on a construction project, which is why contractors need to be flexible and ready to assess new risks as they arise. For example, consider the impacts on a site if there was freezing rain the night before, leaving many walking and working surfaces coated with ice. Though this may be a short-term problem, it still warrants assessment so that workers can feel safe and secure conducting work under these conditions.

Construction Risk Assessment Template (Free Download)

Looking to conduct a construction risk assessment on a project site? Make it easy by downloading this free template to streamline your assessment.

Click here to download your process diagram!

Conducting a comprehensive construction risk assessment is the first step towards improving the safety and productivity of operations on your construction site. Use the tools and tactics provided in this article to improve your risk management program.

myComply is the leading construction workforce management platform for General Contractors that want to reduce their risk exposure by implementing proactive and preventative labor solutions. myComply reduces risk in five key areas:

• Eliminate regulatory fines
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• Win contract disputes
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Interested in finding out more? Explore our website or book a demo with a product expert to see our software in action.

In my opinion, this is now a very complicated process. Starting from workplace safety to anticipating problems with logistics or financing. All factors can lead to problems and risks in a construction project.

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Construction Risk Assessment: What is it and How is it Done?

The roadmap to successful construction risk analysis.

While completing a heavy construction project requires a high level of technical proficiency, it also demands acute awareness of potential risks and the expertise to manage them effectively. This is where construction risk assessment plays an important role. But how exactly do you fully grasp this concept and apply it in real-world scenarios?

At its heart, risk assessment in construction is about proactively exploring ‘what-ifs.’ It involves identifying potential pitfalls before they occur, understanding who could be impacted, and formulating strategic preventive measures. This approach transforms unforeseen challenges into manageable tasks, establishing a framework that not only protects your project’s integrity and financial viability but, most importantly, ensures your team’s safety.

Our guide on construction risk assessment aims to untangle the nuances of this subject in an approachable, easy-to-understand manner. We believe that regardless of your experience level in the construction industry, understanding the fundamentals of risk assessment is key to dealing with the challenges you will face in this sector.

Join us as we break down these concepts, equipping you with the knowledge to turn potential risks into well-managed opportunities.

What is construction risk assessment?

Construction risk assessment is a vital process integral to the safety and success of any project. As outlined by Arizona State University , risk analysis in construction has four iterative stages: identification, assessment, analysis, and mitigation.

The process begins with the identification of risks, which involves a thorough examination of every aspect of a project. It includes evaluating various factors such as site conditions, materials, and work methods. The aim is to pinpoint potential safety issues, environmental impacts, or factors that could cause delays or budget overruns.

Following identification, the process moves to assessment. This step focuses on determining how likely each risk is to occur and the potential severity of its impact. Here, the emphasis is on recognizing risks and understanding their possible effects on the project.

The next stage is analysis. This involves a deeper dive into the identified risks, examining their root causes, interdependencies, and overall context within the project.

Finally, the process concludes with strategizing how to mitigate these risks. This might entail modifying project plans, enhancing safety protocols, or adjusting timelines. The ultimate goal is to either reduce the likelihood of these risks or mitigate their impact if they do materialize.

Identifying risks in heavy construction projects

In the specialized field of heavy construction, which involves large-scale and complex projects, risk identification is essential. The risks faced in heavy construction are varied, typically encompassing safety concerns, environmental impacts, and challenges in project execution.

Safety risks

A top priority in any construction project is the physical safety of workers. Regrettably, the construction industry is notorious for its high rate of work-related injuries and fatalities. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern California , the industry accounted for 20% of all work-related fatalities in the United States in 2019. Common safety risks include accidents from improper equipment use, falls, structural failures, and exposure to hazardous materials.

Environmental risks

The environmental impact of construction activities is another area of concern. These risks include pollution, harm to ecosystems, and unintended disruption to wildlife habitats. For example, a road construction project can pose threats to nearby sources of water or wildlife. Neglecting to address these risks could not only harm the environment but also lead to legal sanctions.

Project execution risks

These are risks that can derail the project’s timeline or budget. Common issues include delays due to adverse weather conditions, unexpected geological challenges, or logistical hurdles in transporting materials. A notable risk in heavy construction is encountering subsurface obstacles during infrastructure projects. This is especially common in underground utility installations where crews might unearth pre-existing infrastructure or natural obstacles, leading to unanticipated delays and additional costs.

Evaluating and analyzing construction risks

Once the risks a construction project could face are identified, the next steps are evaluating and analyzing these risks. This is where the complexities of each identified risk are thoroughly examined to determine their potential impact on the project.

Qualitative risk analysis

This method evaluates risks based on their probability and impact, typically using a risk matrix. The matrix helps in categorizing risks as high, medium, or low priority, according to their likelihood of occurrence and the potential effect on the project. This approach allows project managers to focus their attention and resources on the most significant risks.

Quantitative risk analysis

Quantitative risk analysis involves numerical methods to estimate the probability and potential impact of risks. This could include techniques like Monte Carlo simulations, which use probability distributions to predict the likelihood of different outcomes, or cost-benefit analysis to weigh the potential impacts against the costs of mitigation strategies.

Risk analysis tools and methods

Several tools and methods are employed in the risk analysis process:

• Risk assessment workshops: These sessions involve team discussions to assess and prioritize risks, drawing on the collective knowledge and experience of the project’s stakeholders.
• SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis: This tool is used to assess internal and external factors that could impact the project.
• Checklists and templates: Standardized checklists and templates, such as those from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , assist in evaluating risks and determining their probability and potential impact.
• Software: Advanced software tools can aid in both qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, streamlining the evaluation and analysis process and allowing project managers to maintain smooth operations.

Implementing risk mitigation strategies

After identifying, evaluating, and analyzing the risks a project faces, the final stage is implementing strategies to mitigate these risks. This phase is about taking proactive steps to address the identified risks, ensuring both legal and contractual compliance, and drawing from real-world examples in the industry.

Developing a risk mitigation plan

A well-structured risk mitigation plan includes specific actions designed to manage the identified risks. Potential measures could range from introducing new safety protocols and revising project schedules to implementing more stringent quality control processes. Importantly, this plan should be dynamic, allowing for adjustments as the project progresses and new risks emerge.

Ensuring legal and contractual compliance

All risk mitigation strategies must comply with legal regulations and contractual agreements. This compliance ensures the safety of workers, the protection of the environment, and adherence to industry standards. Regular audits and reviews can help in maintaining this compliance throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Reviewing case studies and examples

Case studies and hypothetical scenarios provide valuable insights into effective risk mitigation. For instance, the “ Guide to Risk Assessment and Allocation for Highway Construction Management ” by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration presents several hypothetical scenarios. involving the construction of a fictitious highway interchange. These examples offer a comprehensive view of how to apply risk assessment and mitigation strategies effectively in a real-world setting.

Closing remarks on effective construction risk assessment

As we’ve explored the role of risk assessment in construction, its importance in ensuring the safety and success of projects cannot be overstated. Each step, from identifying potential hazards to evaluating and analyzing their impacts, is vital in developing a strong risk mitigation plan. Effectively implementing these strategies ensures compliance with legal and contractual obligations while simultaneously safeguarding the project’s integrity and the well-being of everyone involved.

If you’re seeking a deeper dive into risk assessment in heavy construction projects, the “ Guide to Risk Assessment and Allocation for Highway Construction Management ” by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration is an invaluable resource.

Should you require personalized assistance or have any inquiries, our team at TCLI is always available to help .

With the right approach and resources, assessing the risks in heavy construction can become a manageable, even rewarding, endeavor.

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Understanding Construction Risk Assessment

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Risk assessment in construction: Step-by-step guide

Navigate construction project complexities with a step-by-step guide to risk assessment. From identifying risks to implementing mitigation strategies, explore methodologies and tools for effective risk management, ensuring smooth and successful project execution.

Risk assessment is an important part of any construction project. By identifying and assessing the risks involved in a project, you can take action and put the appropriate measures in place to prevent and minimize their impact. This guide provides a step-by-step approach, including how to conduct a risk assessment.

Table of Contents

What is construction risk assessment?

Risk assessment involves the process of identifying, analyzing, and assessing risks that may be involved in a construction project. There are many potential hazards present in construction projects, which makes recognizing them and evaluating their risk factor all the more important.

Why is risk assessment important in construction?

Construction risk assessment is important for a number of reasons, the most prominent being that by identifying potential risks, you can take the proper steps to prevent them from happening. And if a previously-identified risk does end up occurring, knowing what to do ahead of time can better prepare you and your team for minimizing its impact.

It also helps with creating a culture of safety in construction , which can ultimately save lives.

When should risk assessment be conducted?

Ideally, a construction risk assessment should be conducted at the beginning of a construction project, before work begins. This allows you to take preventative measures beforehand. However, a risk assessment should also be a continuous process throughout the project.

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The different types of risks that can occur in construction projects

Due to the dynamic nature of construction projects, many types of risks can be present at the same time. Knowing which one you’re dealing with can help you develop strategies to mitigate them. The different types of risks that can occur in construction projects include safety risks, health risks, environmental risks, and financial risks.

Safety risks

Some common safety risks in construction projects include slipping, tripping, falling, being hit by falling objects, and being caught in or between objects. These risks can be minimized by ensuring that the worksite is clean and tidy, and that all workers are aware of the hazards present and are properly trained in how to avoid them.

Health risks

Health risks in construction projects can include exposure to hazardous materials, such as asbestos , exposure to noise, and repetitive strain injuries. These risks can be controlled by ensuring that workers are properly trained in how to handle hazardous materials, as well as by providing them with personal protective equipment.

Environmental risks

Environmental risks in construction projects can include pollution, soil erosion, and water contamination. These risks can be minimized by using eco-friendly construction methods and materials, and by implementing proper waste management procedures.

Financial risks

Financial risks in construction projects can include cost overruns, delays, and litigation . These risks can be minimized by proper project planning and management, and by ensuring that all contracts are clear and concise.

How to conduct a risk assessment for construction projects

There are a few steps that you can follow to conduct a risk assessment for your construction project.

Risk registers (a document that lists all of the potential risks that could occur in a project, as well as the controls that are in place to mitigate them) are particularly valuable during the process, so it’s important to keep one while going through these steps.

Here are the steps involved in conducting a construction risk assessment.

1. Identify the hazards: The first step is to identify the potential hazards that could occur in your construction project. You can do this by brainstorming with your team, looking at previous projects, or conducting a literature review.

2. Assess the risks: Once you have identified the hazards, you need to assess the risks associated with each hazard. This includes considering the likelihood of the hazard occurring and the potential consequences if it does occur. This will help you to prioritize the risks and determine which ones need to be addressed first.

3. Develop controls: After you’ve assessed the risks, you’ll need to develop controls to mitigate the risks. The type of control will depend on the nature of the risk. For example, this may involve implementing safety measures, such as providing personal protective equipment, or conducting safety training.

4. Implement the controls: Once you’ve developed the controls, you need to implement them in your construction project. This includes ensuring that the controls are followed by all workers on the site.

5. Monitor and review : It’s important to monitor and review the risk assessment of construction projects on a regular basis. This will help you to identify any new risks that may have arisen and ensure that the controls are effective in mitigating the risks.

Tips for conducting a construction risk assessment

Here are some tips for how to conduct a risk assessment in your construction project.

Encourage collaboration

Make sure to involve all members of your team in the process. Due to how many hands are often involved in construction projects, brainstorming with others will help you to identify more potential risks, with every member of the team having something different to offer.

Be proactive and realistic

Taking a proactive approach to risk management means identifying risks before they occur and taking steps to prevent them. It’s important to also be realistic about the risks involved in your project, as this can help you to properly assess the potential consequences and develop effective controls.

Consistency is key

The risk assessment of construction projects is a continuous process, so it’s crucial that you’re monitoring and reviewing everything on a regular basis. This helps with identifying any new risks that may arise in the middle of the project.

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Construction risk assessment is an important part of managing a construction project. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that potential hazards are identified and controlled to protect workers and the project as a whole.

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Michel Richer is the Manager of Content and Product Marketing at Bridgit. He started in the construction industry early on with a local restoration company. Michel is driven to propel the construction industry forward by helping to eliminate outdated, ineffective processes.

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Offsite visits: risk assessments

Please note that these generic risk assessments are not to be regarded as definitive and that there are more to follow, particularly for adventurous activities. They have been prepared to assist with preparation of site or activity specific risk assessments. Staff should refer to, or cut and paste, the relevant bits of these generic risk assessments to fit them to their own specific requirements.

In compiling them I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Taff Bowles of East Riding Yorkshire Council and Martin Smith of Nottingham City Council, whose works I have heavily plundered. I am also grateful to the many colleagues who have sent me risk assessments as part of their offsite visit notifications, which have been extensively trawled in the process of producing these documents - if you see something you recognize as possibly being your work, then it probably is.

Mark Falkingham Offsite Visits Adviser

The following risk assessments dated 2015 are still valid as of 2020.

Kisiel Group

Professionalism and Integrity in Construction

Construction Site Risk Assessment (Health and Safety)

How do you stay safe on site? Construction sites have more risks than most working environments and so extra care is needed for the health and safety of everyone involved.

Risk assessment is all about assessing and minimising risk. However, when working on a construction site, anticipating the building risks, and putting strategies in place to prevent accidents is a much higher priority than if you were working in an office environment.

So here is some information on Construction Risk Assessment.

What are ‘RAMS’?

RAMS are a quick way of referring to Risk Assessments and Method Statements – two different aspects of site health and safety.

The Risk Assessment does what is says and considers all health and safety risks, whereas the Method Statement shows how you are going to manage the risks in order to meet your legal responsibilities, under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

You have responsibility under law to protect anyone who works or visits your site and to any member of the public who might be affected by the construction works.

What is a Construction Risk Assessment?

The person responsible for health and safety needs to develop a risk assessment plan. Any person undertaking a Construction Risk Assessment needs to be competent – having sufficient knowledge or experience. There are four stages:

• Identify the risks that can be avoided completely and remove them
• Review the risks and potential hazards that cannot be avoided
• Set up processes to control and manage them so that their impact is reduced
• Monitor the effectiveness of the measures

Purpose of risk assessment

A risk assessment can be a simple document but it needs to be comprehensive. It is a means of summarising all the risks following a site visit risk assessment, identifying who could be at risk and a establishing a set of control measures to reduce the risk.

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A construction risk assessment template can be used but the risk analysis will vary between each construction site and will need include all the risks and hazards that have been identified.

Risk assessment routine

As most developers have projects which will mean more than 5 people are working on site, you will need to have written documentation.

It makes it easier to communicate:

• Site notices for visitors
• Site inductions for workers
• Risk assessments for tasks
• Evidence that reasonable precautions have been considered

Here are the steps to creating a Building Risk Assessment.

1) Identify the risks

Look at every aspect of the construction works. When identifying the risks, here are some areas to include but they are not limited to:

2) Identify who and how

You need to consider everyone who may visit or pass by your site as there is the potential for them to be impacted by the construction work.

• Subcontractors
• Delivery drivers
• Construction professionals
• Members of the public

3) Evaluate and prioritise

Having identified the risks, they now need to be categorised into ‘HIGH risk, MEDIUM risk and LOW risk’. Here is an example of the criteria for assessing each identified risk.

4) Recording significant findings and identifying control measures

Keep the risk assessment in simple plain English so that they are easy to understand by everyone on the site. For each identified risk, you need to state what is the control measure for the risk, who is responsible for the making sure that the measures are put in place and for monitoring them. Check that the measure in place is proportionate to the risk level.

Method statements assist with the planning of making the site compliant with health and safety requirements and actioning the control measures for each risk.

5) Review the risk

A construction site is changing at each phase of the project and so it essential to update the risk assessment report to take into account new risks. Updates need to be communicated to everyone on site in order to manage risks effectively.

When and how do I notify the HSE?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) must be notified before construction commences if it is a notifiable construction project. This can be done online using form F10. You will need to include the following information:

• Location and Local Authority
• Description of the project and the construction works
• Number of people working on the site
• Start date and duration
• Those involved in the project – contact details of client, principal designer, and principal contractor.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations – known as CDM regulations – are a set of health and safety regulations that apply to all construction projects. The client has overall responsibility for managing the health and safety on a construction site supported by the principal designer and principal contractor.

What makes a construction project notifiable?

You need to submit a F10 form to notify HSE if your construction project:

• is likely to last longer than 30 working days and has more than 20 workers on site at any one time
• will involve more than 500 person days of construction work.

What construction site risk assessments do I need to carry out?

There are two types of site risk assessments:

• General Assessments – assessing all the health and safety risks to which anyone on the site could be exposed.
• Specific assessment – risk assessment for specific hazards e.g. hazardous substances (COSHH), working at height, manual handling, vibration, dust, and noise to name a few.

What is a construction phase plan?

The plan is a document to show how the health and safety is being planned, organised, and monitored throughout the project so that work can be carried out safely and is a means for everyone to work together to minimise the risks.

What is a health and safety file?

A health and safety file contains all the information which might be needed whilst anyone is working on the construction site – essential if there is more than one contractor working on site for clear communication.

What are thorough examination reports?

Examination reports are a record of the tests and controls in place for all lifting equipment that is used on the construction site. Examples of lifting equipment include but are not limited to cranes, slings, lifts, hoists, forklift trucks – in fact, any equipment that is used for lifting or lowering loads.

What are inspection reports?

Regular inspections need to be undertaken, recorded, and retained for items which include but are not limited to scaffolding, ladders, and excavations.

What is a method statement for construction works?

A method statement is part of RAMS and states how the identified risks will be managed and controlled on a site-specific basis. It also ensures that the safe methods of work have been clearly communicated to those who will be carrying out each task, especially for the higher risk elements of the construction works. Tasks can be adequately planned and appropriate resources put in place to maintain good health and safety outcomes.

What do I do if there’s an injury or accident on my building site?

There must be a clear procedure to follow in the event of an injury or accident on a construction site. Details must be recorded on an Accident / Incident form. If there has been a death, injury, or a dangerous occurrence, it will need to be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR (Reporting or Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).

Do bear in mind that HSE is not an emergency service and so if immediate medical support is required, emergency procedures as recorded in the Health & Safety file should be followed.

Key documents

In summary, here are the key documents you can expect on a construction site:

• Risk assessments
• Method statements
• F10 notification form
• Construction Phase Plan
• Health & Safety File
• Examination Reports
• Inspection reports
• Accident / Incident reports

You do not need to know how to undertake a construction site risk assessment but you do need to be aware of your responsibilities. A good principal contractor will have the expertise within their construction project management team .

Getting the right project management team on your next development is essential to bring your project to a safe and successful completion.

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• Risk Assessments

Risk Assessment Template Site Visit

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Document Description

Create your document in minutes with this ready to use Site Visit Risk Assessment template. Use the quick and easy editor to add your details, make changes, and download a completed document branded with your business name.

This Site Visit Risk Assessment has been created to assess the risks associated with site visitors, who may be unfamiliar with your site.

The Site Visit Risk Assessment will give you a good indication of the hazards and risks you need to control when allowing visitors onto your site. It identifies the common hazards and includes control measures to reduce the risks associated with a site visit.

You can use the Site Visit Risk Assessment template as it is, in your business, and we will add your business name at the top of each page. The template is pre-completed as a ready to use example for the activity, you can edit it as much as you need to produce a site specific health and safety document for your projects or workplace.

This 5 page document includes:

• Assessment of Risk
• Significant Hazards
• Persons at Risk
• Control Measures
• Assessment of Remaining Risk
• Further Action Required
• Acknowledgement

How do I edit this document?

This Site Visit Risk Assessment template can be edited online within your browser. Editing is quick and simple, but if you need more time, there's no hurry to finish your document today - you get 30 days use of the template and online editor to create your document.

When you complete your order, the document can be found in your account under 'Documents'. You can edit the document online from your HASpod account.

How do I download this document?

Download in PDF format for maximum compatibility across devices - no special software required. Once downloaded you can save, print and use your Site Visit Risk Assessment document within your business for as long as you need it.

After making your edits, click the download button to get your PDF - we will add your business name in the header for you.

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Site access and vehicle movement: example risk assessments and policies, see template risk assessments for pedestrian and vehicle access and movement on site, and examples of school policies., all risk assessments must be recorded, example risk assessments.

• Example school policies

Having a risk assessment specifically about vehicle or pedestrian access to the school site is not a statutory requirement. However, depending on your setting, you may decide it’s a good idea.

You’re always required to assess risks and put in place appropriate control measures – and if you do, you need to keep a written record of the risk assessments. We explain all of this in our article on statutory risk assessments .

Pedestrian and vehicle movement

Kent County Council has published a pedestrian and vehicle movement risk assessment template for its schools. The risk assessment has 5 steps:

• What are the hazards?
• Who might be harmed and how?
• What are you doing already?
• Is anything further needed? By whom and by when?
• Date further action was completed, and date of next review

The document includes examples of

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• Statutory risk assessments: checklist and guidance
• Site management policies

Also in " Premises: risk assessments "

• COSHH: risk assessment template and guidance
• Dogs in school: guidance and risk assessments
• Fire risk assessment: guidance and templates
• Playgrounds and breaktimes: risk assessments

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Construction Site Risk Assessment (Health and Safety)

So here is some information on Construction Risk Assessment.

What are ‘RAMS’?

RAMS are a quick way of referring to Risk Assessments and Method Statements – two different aspects of site health and safety.

The Risk Assessment does what is says and considers all health and safety risks, whereas the Method Statement shows how you are going to manage the risks in order to meet your legal responsibilities, under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

You have responsibility under law to protect anyone who works or visits your site and to any member of the public who might be affected by the construction works.

What is a Construction Risk Assessment?

The person responsible for health and safety needs to develop a risk assessment plan. Any person undertaking a Construction Risk Assessment needs to be competent – having sufficient knowledge or experience. There are four stages:

• Identify the risks that can be avoided completely and remove them
• Review the risks and potential hazards that cannot be avoided
• Set up processes to control and manage them so that their impact is reduced
• Monitor the effectiveness of the measures

Purpose of risk assessment

A risk assessment can be a simple document but it needs to be comprehensive. It is a means of summarising all the risks following a site visit risk assessment, identifying who could be at risk and a establishing a set of control measures to reduce the risk.

DON’T LET ‘UNEXPECTED COSTS’ TURN YOUR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INTO A NIGHTMARE.

Download our 16 examples of how costs can escalate if the impact of ‘unexpected costs’ are not considered. Find out what they are and roughly how much each of them could cost you.

Download The List Now!

A construction risk assessment template can be used but the risk analysis will vary between each construction site and will need include all the risks and hazards that have been identified.

Risk assessment routine

As most developers have projects which will mean more than 5 people are working on site, you will need to have written documentation.

It makes it easier to communicate:

• Site notices for visitors
• Site inductions for workers
• Risk assessments for tasks
• Evidence that reasonable precautions have been considered

Here are the steps to creating a Building Risk Assessment.

1) Identify the risks

Look at every aspect of the construction works. When identifying the risks, here are some areas to include but they are not limited to:

2) Identify who and how

You need to consider everyone who may visit or pass by your site as there is the potential for them to be impacted by the construction work.

• Subcontractors
• Delivery drivers
• Construction professionals
• Members of the public

3) Evaluate and prioritise

Having identified the risks, they now need to be categorised into ‘HIGH risk, MEDIUM risk and LOW risk’. Here is an example of the criteria for assessing each identified risk.

4) Recording significant findings and identifying control measures

Keep the risk assessment in simple plain English so that they are easy to understand by everyone on the site. For each identified risk, you need to state what is the control measure for the risk, who is responsible for the making sure that the measures are put in place and for monitoring them. Check that the measure in place is proportionate to the risk level.

Method statements assist with the planning of making the site compliant with health and safety requirements and actioning the control measures for each risk.

5) Review the risk

A construction site is changing at each phase of the project and so it essential to update the risk assessment report to take into account new risks. Updates need to be communicated to everyone on site in order to manage risks effectively.

When and how do I notify the HSE?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) must be notified before construction commences if it is a notifiable construction project. This can be done online using form F10. You will need to include the following information:

• Location and Local Authority
• Description of the project and the construction works
• Number of people working on the site
• Start date and duration
• Those involved in the project – contact details of client, principal designer, and principal contractor.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations – known as CDM regulations – are a set of health and safety regulations that apply to all construction projects. The client has overall responsibility for managing the health and safety on a construction site supported by the principal designer and principal contractor.

What makes a construction project notifiable?

You need to submit a F10 form to notify HSE if your construction project:

• is likely to last longer than 30 working days and has more than 20 workers on site at any one time
• will involve more than 500 person days of construction work.

What construction site risk assessments do I need to carry out?

There are two types of site risk assessments:

• General Assessments – assessing all the health and safety risks to which anyone on the site could be exposed.
• Specific assessment – risk assessment for specific hazards e.g. hazardous substances (COSHH), working at height, manual handling, vibration, dust, and noise to name a few.

What is a construction phase plan?

The plan is a document to show how the health and safety is being planned, organised, and monitored throughout the project so that work can be carried out safely and is a means for everyone to work together to minimise the risks.

What is a health and safety file?

A health and safety file contains all the information which might be needed whilst anyone is working on the construction site – essential if there is more than one contractor working on site for clear communication.

What are thorough examination reports?

Examination reports are a record of the tests and controls in place for all lifting equipment that is used on the construction site. Examples of lifting equipment include but are not limited to cranes, slings, lifts, hoists, forklift trucks – in fact, any equipment that is used for lifting or lowering loads.

What are inspection reports?

Regular inspections need to be undertaken, recorded, and retained for items which include but are not limited to scaffolding, ladders, and excavations.

What is a method statement for construction works?

A method statement is part of RAMS and states how the identified risks will be managed and controlled on a site-specific basis. It also ensures that the safe methods of work have been clearly communicated to those who will be carrying out each task, especially for the higher risk elements of the construction works. Tasks can be adequately planned and appropriate resources put in place to maintain good health and safety outcomes.

What do I do if there’s an injury or accident on my building site?

There must be a clear procedure to follow in the event of an injury or accident on a construction site. Details must be recorded on an Accident / Incident form. If there has been a death, injury, or a dangerous occurrence, it will need to be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR (Reporting or Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).

Do bear in mind that HSE is not an emergency service and so if immediate medical support is required, emergency procedures as recorded in the Health & Safety file should be followed.

Key documents

In summary, here are the key documents you can expect on a construction site:

• Risk assessments
• Method statements
• F10 notification form
• Construction Phase Plan
• Health & Safety File
• Examination Reports
• Inspection reports
• Accident / Incident reports

You do not need to know how to undertake a construction site risk assessment but you do need to be aware of your responsibilities. A good principal contractor will have the expertise within their construction project management team .

Getting the right project management team on your next development is essential to bring your project to a safe and successful completion.

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Latest projects.

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Air Space development

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Hostility from neighbours

How the Kisiel team turned the situation round

Finding Solutions

A good project management team is essential to deliver a quality project

Construction expertise

Complex project wins a national award

Developer spots potential

Turning a derelict building into 5 modern apartments

Property investor upgrades

An apartment in property portfolio gets a touch of elegance

Multi-Award Winning Team

Winning Awards since 2018

House Builder Award 2021

2021 Winner at London MBAwards

Scooping a Second Award

2019 Winner of FMB London Region 'Large Renovation Project

National Award for 2nd time

Winners of 'Refurbishment of the Year' Award 2019

Master Builder Award

2019 Winner of FMB London Region 'New Home Project

National Award

Winners of 'Refurbishment of the Year' Award 2018

‘The Extra Mile’

Winning 'Runner Up' in local business awards

A Gold Award

Secured by Design' Gold Award for security on one of our projects

TESTIMONIALS

Although I did not know them before awarding them the contract, I can say at the end of this project that I made a good choice in selecting the Kisiel Group team. They fully understood what I was trying to achieve and so their feedback on design and their professional advice was spot on. A speedy response to any issues helped to keep the project on schedule.

Inicio Homes Property Development Company, London

Their finish is incredible, this has been confirmed by our buyers, estate agents and other contractors who have seen the properties. They were very helpful assisting us with design decisions and solutions.

L. Hebden SMC Property, Ealing, West London

Kisiel Group did a great job on a challenging project in London. The project included a full internal refurbishment, rewiring, plumbing etc, a new contemporary extension to the garden and a basement under the garden linked into the main house. This complex and demanding project was handled very well by Lukasz and his team and the client is very happy.

Architect A&A Architects

Private Homeowner

I was really impressed with how well Kisiel Group completed my basement. The management team and the builders provided a really top quality finish, and some great suggestions to improve the layout. First class service!

A. Sobus Homeowner, West Kensington, London

As this property was within a conservation area, we appreciated the advice that Kisiel Ltd gave to us and their work to bring back the front façade back to its original state. We have been very happy with the completed works, they have done an excellent job.

SMC Property, Ealing, West London

Property Management Company

The Kisiel Group did a fantastic job on the refurbishment of our apartment, which was carried out on time, within budget, to our requirements, and to a very high standard. There was good communication with Kisiel’s project manager through the project and we would highly recommend the Kisiel Group.

Property Management Phoenix Logistics Ltd

Property Investment Company

There are a number of reasons why we continue to use Kisiel Group but a key factor is the pride with which each individual team member operates.

Property Manager Property Investment Company, London

Property Owner

I valued Kisiel Group’s approach to bring options and solutions to me rather than problems. Subsequent actions were implemented swiftly.

Property Owner South West London

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