Risk Assessments
Responsible person: Caroline Thomas or delegated competent manager
People at risk: Children, staff, visitors, volunteers, contractors and animals, as applicable
Purpose: Record significant hazards and controls. The activity lead checks conditions before every session, follows individual plans and stops work if controls cannot be maintained. Separate fire, COSHH, safeguarding and transport procedures also apply.
Risk method: Likelihood (1–5) × severity (1–5). Low 1–4; medium 5–9; high 10–16; very high 17–25. Scores are starting assessments for manager verification. Do not proceed with high or very high residual risk.
After an incident: Make the area safe, provide first aid, notify the manager and DSL where relevant, record facts and review before repeating the activity.
Assessment 1: Site access, vehicles and outdoor conditions
Slips, falls and restricted areas
Possible harm: Falls or injury
Required controls: Inspect paths and activity spaces before use. Keep gates latched, routes clear and hazardous stores locked. Use suitable footwear and close unsafe areas.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Vehicle collision or unsafe handover
Possible harm: Impact or crushing
Required controls: Keep children out of vehicle routes. Use the agreed arrival point, low site speeds and a banksman where needed. Hand children over only to an authorised adult.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Ponds, weather and trees
Possible harm: Drowning or injury
Required controls: Keep children away from open water unless directly supervised. Close unsafe areas during ice, lightning, high wind or extreme heat; isolate damaged trees.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Unstable fencing, gates or restricted areas
Possible harm: Escape, injury or contact with equipment
Required controls: Inspect fences and gates; keep restricted areas locked; repair defects or isolate the area before activities.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Assessment 2: School visits, sessions and safeguarding
Inadequate supervision or unknown needs
Possible harm: Unsafe participation
Required controls: Confirm numbers, staff roles, medical and additional needs, emergency contacts and collection arrangements before attendance. Brief visitors and count children at transitions.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Distress, physical aggression or flight
Possible harm: Injury or escape
Required controls: Use each learner’s plan, early warning signs, calm communication and agreed regulation strategies. Move others away and end animal, fire or tool activities immediately if safety changes.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Placement suitability
Possible harm: Serious injury or missing child
Required controls: Do not accept or continue a placement if current physical aggression towards people or animals, or a serious risk of leaving the supervised area, cannot be safely managed on this open farm. Assess current behaviour, reasonable adjustments, staffing and boundaries individually, rather than relying on a diagnosis. Pause and review any placement if these risks emerge.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Missing child or safeguarding concern
Possible harm: Exposure to harm
Required controls: Raise the alarm, maintain supervision of others, check priority hazards and call 999 when warranted. Report concerns immediately to the DSL and make a factual record.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Parties and larger groups
Possible harm: Crowding, separation or unsafe animal contact
Required controls: Confirm numbers and adult supervision; use manageable groups, clear boundaries and headcounts; pause if capacity or supervision is inadequate.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Work experience and volunteers
Possible harm: Injury from unfamiliar tasks
Required controls: Induct, explain prohibited work, assign a supervisor and match tasks to age and competence.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Assessment 3: Animal contact and infection control
Bites, kicks, scratches, crushing or escape
Possible harm: Injury or escape
Required controls: Only trained staff select and control suitable animals. Supervise contact, respect animal retreat space, secure pens and stop if an animal shows stress or unsafe behaviour.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Zoonoses and contamination
Possible harm: Infection
Required controls: No eating or drinking in animal areas. Wash hands with soap and running water after contact and before eating; hand gel is not a substitute. Clean contact areas, equipment and footwear between groups and venues.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Allergy and vulnerable visitors
Possible harm: Allergic reaction or distress
Required controls: Check relevant allergies, pregnancy, immune vulnerability and accessibility needs in advance. Adjust or exclude contact where necessary and follow the agreed emergency plan.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Children near animal waste
Possible harm: Infection from hand-to-mouth contact
Required controls: Keep food, drinks, dummies and toys away from animal areas; supervise handwashing and clean contaminated clothing or footwear.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Assessment 4: Small mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates
Bites, scratches, stress or escape
Possible harm: Injury or escape
Required controls: Use suitable species and trained handlers; control handling time and group size. Support animals correctly, keep carriers secure and provide quiet recovery space.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Reptile and bird hygiene
Possible harm: Infection or escape
Required controls: Keep species-specific enclosures secure and at suitable temperature. Use dedicated equipment, prevent face contact and wash hands after handling animals or equipment.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Small mammals and hedgehogs
Possible harm: Bites, scratches, escape or stress
Required controls: Staff select suitable animals, support the body during handling and limit duration; use secure carriers and quiet recovery space.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Poultry and waterfowl
Possible harm: Pecks, scratches or contamination
Required controls: Use controlled group access, wash hands and keep people out of soiled pens; follow any current disease restrictions.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Assessment 5: Livestock, equines, alpacas and pigs
Kicks, horns, bites and crushing
Possible harm: Injury from livestock
Required controls: Keep participants outside pens unless staff have assessed the animal and task. Use controlled approaches, secure gates and escape routes. Staff manage feeding and leading.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Higher-risk animals
Possible harm: Injury or escape
Required controls: No participant contact with entire male alpacas, aggressive animals, protective mothers or sick or isolated animals. Do not approach escaped animals without a planned handler response.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Pig contact
Possible harm: Injury or infection
Required controls: Use secure barriers and trained staff. Apply species-specific hygiene and movement controls; only include pigs where appropriate insurance and arrangements are confirmed.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Pregnant, newborn or sick animals
Possible harm: Protective behaviour, injury or infection
Required controls: Exclude public handling; separate and monitor as directed by competent staff or a vet; use a planned response to escapes.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Assessment 6: Feeding, cleaning and practical animal care
Unsafe feeding and cross-contamination
Possible harm: Injury or contamination
Required controls: Staff prepare the correct feed and supervise distribution. Prevent hand feeding unless specifically approved. Keep tools and manure away from food areas; wash hands after work.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Cleaning chemicals, sharps and medicines
Possible harm: Poisoning or puncture
Required controls: Store locked and labelled. Follow COSHH and product instructions; trained staff only administer medicines. Dispose of sharps in an approved container and respond promptly to exposure.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Mucking out and dusty bedding
Possible harm: Respiratory irritation, slips and manual-handling injury
Required controls: Limit dust, use suitable PPE, remove waste promptly and use safe lifting or trolleys; wash hands afterwards.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Assessment 7: Campfires and outdoor cooking
Burns, smoke and spread of fire
Possible harm: Injury or ill health
Required controls: Use a designated site with competent staff, an exclusion boundary, suitable weather and water or extinguisher available. Control ignition sources and never leave a fire unattended.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Food burns or contamination
Possible harm: Burns or illness
Required controls: Staff control hot tools and food; check allergies; wash hands before eating. Extinguish fully and check embers before leaving.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Assessment 8: Whittling, woodwork and gardening
Cuts or tool misuse
Possible harm: Cuts or punctures
Required controls: Use age and ability appropriate tools, instruction, spacing and direct supervision. Stop when behaviour or concentration makes tools unsafe. Secure tools after use.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Power tools and machinery
Possible harm: Serious injury
Required controls: Authorised competent adults only unless a separate task assessment supports supervised use. Use guards and PPE, isolate faulty equipment and keep others outside the work area.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Manual handling and falling materials
Possible harm: Muscle injury or crushing
Required controls: Keep bale stacks stable and inaccessible to children. Use trolleys or team lifting for heavy loads; inspect routes and match tasks to capability.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Garden tools and sharp objects
Possible harm: Cuts or struck-by injury
Required controls: Check tools and the work area; set safe spacing; supervise and lock tools away after use.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Assessment 9: Mobile farm transport and events
Loading, travel and escape
Possible harm: Injury, escape or welfare harm
Required controls: Check vehicle, ramp, partitions and animal fitness. Trained handlers load within a secure exclusion area; secure loads and carry an escape and breakdown plan.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Crowds and venue layout
Possible harm: Injury or stress
Required controls: Agree venue roles and suitable handwashing. Inspect pens, barriers, ventilation and exits; use small supervised groups and stop contact if crowded or animals are stressed.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Heat or severe weather
Possible harm: Heat illness or animal harm
Required controls: Check forecast and vehicle temperature. Provide shade, air and water; adjust species, duration or time, or postpone when welfare cannot be maintained.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Indoor visits
Possible harm: Contamination, blocked exits or escape
Required controls: Agree a ventilated, washable space away from food areas; protect flooring, maintain exits, secure doors and count animals before leaving.
Risk: 12 high before controls; 4 low after controls.
Assessment 10: Fire, emergencies and staff safety
Fire or medical emergency
Possible harm: Injury or delayed response
Required controls: Keep exits clear, first aid stocked and site access details available. Staff know how to call 999, evacuate and account for people; follow the separate fire plan.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Lone work, contractors and young workers
Possible harm: Delayed assistance
Required controls: Avoid lone high-risk work; use check-ins and communications. Induct contractors and volunteers, restrict hazardous tasks and supervise young workers according to competence.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Electrical equipment and maintenance
Possible harm: Shock, crushing or entanglement
Required controls: Competent authorised users only; inspect, guard and isolate equipment before maintenance; keep students outside work zones.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Contractors and deliveries
Possible harm: Vehicle impact or access to children
Required controls: Induct contractors, agree routes and work zones, coordinate arrivals and maintain safeguarding separation.
Risk: 15 high before controls; 5 medium after controls.
Individual learner assessment and approval
Record relevant health needs, triggers, current incidents, communication, supervision, boundaries, permitted activities, handover and emergency response in an individual plan. Note reasonable adjustments and the decision to accept, accept with adjustments, pause or decline a placement. Review after significant change.
Lat reviewed and edited: September 2026
Next review: latest September 2027
