RISK ASSESSMENT Pond Dipping

LOCATION Basingstoke Parks

Assessment of hazards associated with pond dipping activities in open space. To be used in conjunction with site risk assessment.

POTENTIAL PERSON(S) PRECAUTIONS & CONTROL LIKELIHOOD OF HAZARD RISK PERSON(S)

HAZARD
HARM AT RISK MEASURES OCCURRENCE SEVERITY FACTOR RESPONSIBLE
Supervisors to be aware of nearest
Accident and Emergency hospital; A first
aid kit must be on site at all times; A
Supervisor mobile phone should be available at all
General times (if no/poor signal, all supervisors
emergency
Injury Participant should know the location of the nearest 1 4 4 Supervisor
Public landline); A safety plan should be
completed for all sessions; All incidents
and near misses to be recorded in an
accident book and reported to BDBC
Event supervisors and volunteers to be
Getting lost/ Participant introduced at the beginning of the
Unfamiliar session; Children to be accompanied by a Supervisor
location
separated (including responsible adult; Participants advised to 1 3 3 Participant
from group children) remain in site of the group. Muster point
communicated.
Area to be recced several days in
Slips trips Supervisor advance to ensure plenty of open space
Trip hazards/
and falls Participant for activities, especially close to dipping
obstructions
Scratches (including platform; Any obstructions that cannot be 2 3 6 Supervisor
along route cleared/cut back to be marked on the day
Eye injury children)
to avoid injury.
 POTENTIAL PERSON(S) PRECAUTIONS & CONTROL LIKELIHOOD OF HAZARD RISK PERSON(S)
HAZARD
HARM AT RISK MEASURES OCCURRENCE SEVERITY FACTOR RESPONSIBLE
Appropriate clothing to be worn for the
weather (layers of warm, waterproof
Hypothermia clothing in winter, or thin, light clothing,
Hyperthermia Supervisor preferably with sleeves and a sunhat, in
Inclement Fainting Participant summer); Suncream available; Drink Supervisor
weather Sunburn (including plenty of fluids and take regular breaks; 2 3 6 Participants
Sunstroke children) Erect gazebo for shade for participants
and potted wildlife; Stop activity if heavy
Discomfort rain/strong wind or participants experience
discomfort.
Minimum of two adult supervisors to be
present around the pond during dipping
Supervisor sessions; Dipping to only happen in
specified area, other parts cordoned off if
Drowning Participant Supervisor
Pond
Hypothermia (including
necessary; Children to be accompanied 1 4 4 Participant
by a responsible adult; Dipping to only
children) occur from the banks or platform, without
anyone entering the water; Bring a throw
line in case of emergency.
Participants briefed about using the
Supervisor equipment in the correct way; All
Pots, trays
Participant equipment checked at beginning and end Supervisor
and other Cuts
(including of session to ensure no broken, sharp 2 2 4 Participant
equipment plastic; Any broken equipment to be
children)
removed and labelled.
Participants briefed about safe way to use
Slips, trips, nets, including safe distances from others,
Supervisor
falls avoiding leaning too far with net or picking
Participant Supervisor
Nets Bruising
(including
up large, submerged objects; Be mindful 2 2 4 Participant
Loss of of the length of the pole and possibility of
children) catching eyes and other body parts,
balance
especially with people crouching down.
Slips, trips, All unused equipment to be stored in a
Supervisor
falls designated place; Participants to use only
Poor house- Participant Supervisor
keeping
Bruising
(including
what is necessary to avoid excess 2 3 6 Participant
Puncture equipment lying around; Encourage
children) participants to keep area safe and tidy.
wounds

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 POTENTIAL PERSON(S) PRECAUTIONS & CONTROL LIKELIHOOD OF HAZARD RISK PERSON(S)
HAZARD
HARM AT RISK MEASURES OCCURRENCE SEVERITY FACTOR RESPONSIBLE
Erect and take down gazebo with help
from others; Follow manual handling
Musculo- Supervisor guidelines when loading/unloading;
Gazebo/ skeletal injury Participant Weight the legs of gazebo using weights
Table Bruising (including or guy ropes; Do not use in strong winds. 2 3 6 Supervisor
Crushing children) Brief participants to be cautious of joints;
Ensure table has safety catch to prevent
collapse and avoid heavy loads on top.
Carry out a visual survey of the work area
Loss of Supervisor before hand to identify any potential
Submerged balance Participant hazards in the water; Warn participants Supervisor
objects Musculo- (including about the possibility of finding something 1 3 3 Participant
skeletal injury children) other than pond wildlife and to alert
supervisors if this is the case.
Supervisor All participants to wash hands thoroughly
Contact with and/or use anti-bacterial gel after handling
Participant Supervisor
micro- Disease
(including
wildlife and equipment and before eating 1 4 4 Participant
organisms or drinking; Seek medical attention if
children) symptoms occur.
Supervisor Explain basic manual handling during
safety talk (avoid heavy loads/twisting/
Manual Musculo- Participant Supervisor
straining); Don’t over-stretch when using 2 3 6
handling skeletal injury (including nets; Be careful not to twist back when Participant
children) moving submerged nets.
Make participants aware of the
importance of the welfare of the animals
they are handling; Have pots pre-prepared
Injury/death with pond water and a little vegetation for
shelter; Keep the containers nearby and No risk to the participant, but the
to wildlife Supervisor
Humans Wildlife do not keep invertebrates out in strong risk of death to wildlife is high, so
being sun; Where possible, do not keep Participant
control measures must be followed
handled predators in the same container as their
prey; Use the right size container for
animal and be mindful of delicate body
parts; Release back to same habitat.

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RISK ASSESSMENT FOR: ASSESSMENT UNDERTAKEN BY: LAST UPDATED ON:

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council NAME: Charlie Cutt DATE:

Civic Offices,
London Road, SIGNED: CC DATE:
Basingstoke,
RG21 4AH DATE: 24/4/20 DATE:

Hazard Severity
RISK MATRIX 1 2 3 4 5
Low Slight Moderate High Severe
Injury or
Minor injury Moderate Death or major
disease Multiple
Doing this activity every day: not requiring injury resulting injury to one
resulting in >7 death
First Aid in First Aid individual
days off work
Injury may occur less
1 Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5
than once in a lifetime
Injury may occur less
2 Possible 2 4 6 8 10
Likelihood of

than once a year

occurrence

Injury may occur two-

3 Occasional 3 6 9 12 15
three times per year
Injury will occur more
4 Likely than three times per 4 8 12 16 20
year
Injury is probably going
5 Very likely 5 10 15 20 25
to occur

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If control measures are followed as described, risk factor is low enough to continue

Hazard carries a moderate level of risk. Attempt to eliminate or isolate hazard; if this can’t be done, decide whether task
is essential and who is competent to ensure it is carried out safely. Additional control measures may be necessary

Hazard is very high risk. Unless it can be isolated/eliminated, do not carry out task. Find alternative solution.

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