Risk Assessment

Risk level key- Calculate after risk management strategies in place

Probability Severity Risk Level (Prob. +
Sev. )
1- Very unlikely (<1% chance)
2- Unlikely (1-10% chance)
3- Maybe (10-50% chance)
1- Treated on-site (1
st
aid kit)
2- Evacuated (hospital / home)
3- Life threatening (death)
VL= Very Low (2)
L= Low (3)
M= Medium (4) (activity
may still run with
management strategies in
place)

H= High (5)
VH= Very High (6)
(activity does not
run unless modification
can change RL to less than
5)

Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Vehicle
accident
(train, bus,
plane)
Environmental
Dangerous travelling
conditions
Avoid travelling in dangerous
conditions
Stop and wait for safer conditions
even if it may mean missing the
scheduled transfer
Seek advice from travel professionals
(ie. bus, plane or train operators)
Equipment
Faulty vehicle or
component of vehicle
Bus
Check tire pressure
Check wheel bearings by rocking
wheels
Walk around vehicle and observe
before driving
Be aware for strange noises or
vibrations, etc. and stop & inspect if
detected
Human
Fatigue
Driving too fast for
conditions
Driving too fast for
ability
Not realising
consequences of
inattention
Bus
Ensure drivers are well rested
Make use of another driver if there is a
rested, responsible person
Full bus license holders/ trained
professionals
Wear seatbelt when provided
Train
Take care when getting in and out of
carriage
Do not travel between carriages
Plane
Follow safety instructions from staff
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Snake bite
causing
injury or
death
Environmental
Poisonous snakes
Rainforest/ savanna
environments
Hot conditions
Avoid snakes if sighted
Avoid walking in long grassy areas
Be aware that snakes like dry/ hot
conditions
Do not walk around at night without a
torch
Equipment
Lack of sturdy footwear
Lack of bandages
Wear closed shoes when walking on
trail
Carry bandages appropriate for snake
bite and apply immediately if bite
suspected
Human
Person not realising they
have been bitten
Participants not aware of
danger of snakes
Look for bite marks on a mysteriously
ill participant
Ensure participants are aware of
danger of snake bite
Participants not to play with snakes
Participants playing with
snakes
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Hyperthermia Environmental
Hot conditions
Lack of water
Do not conduct activities in
extremely hot conditions
Stay near natural water sources
where possible
Observe BOM site prior to trip
Consider modifying trip in
excessively hot weather
Equipment
Lack of water
Lack of hat and
protective clothing
Too much clothing
worn
Ensure all participants have
appropriate gear before trip
Observe the gear participants are
wearing and suggest changes if
appropriate
Human
People not taking care
of themselves and using
protective equipment
Exercising in hot
conditions
Encourage slip / slop / slap
Stop and cool people if they are hot
Observe people for signs of
dehydration and heat stroke
Encourage people to drink
Do not exercise participants in
excessively hot conditions
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Hypothermia Environmental
Cold air
Cold water
Wind
Stay out of wind where possible
Stay out of rain where possible
Consider making shelter to cut wind
and create area of warm air
Consider modifying the trip in
extremely cold conditions
Equipment
Inappropriate gear for
conditions
Carry and use waterproofs when
needed
Everyone to have wool, polartec, or
polypropylene clothing that insulates
when wet
Carry waterproofs where they are
accessible
Adequately waterproof gear inside of
rucksack (sleeping bag, mat etc.)
Human
People not eating
People not taking care of
themselves and using
protective gear
People tired
Constantly observe for signs /
symptoms of hypothermia
Stop and warm people if they are
cold
Ensure people know the importance
of eating
Ensure everyone has a good
breakfast on cold days
Make sure people are wearing
appropriate clothing for conditions
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Burn from
boiling
water/ gas
stove
Equipment
Stoves
Billies of boiling or
recently boiled water
Participants to be aware of the risk of
burns from boiled / boiling water, and
stoves
Participants to know how to use stoves
before trying to use
Human
Participants stepping
over stoves
Have a no go zone around cooking
stoves for those not involved in
cooking
Billies of boiled water
placed away from
adequate light
Participants reminded of dangers of
remoteness of location and
implications of serious burn
Boiled water left next to stoves where
it is visible
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 2, Sev: 2, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Pre-
existing
medical
condition
causes
death,
injury or
illness
Environmental
Any conditions which
may cause a pre-existing
condition to cause harm
eg. Allergens such as
bees or pollen; cold / hot
weather or sudden
changes in temperature;
any conditions which
generate stress (isolation,
etc.) ; difficult terrain
causing exertion;
remoteness of area from
help
Go through medicals before trip to
ascertain whether proposed
undertaking may effect a persons pre-
existing medical conditions
Consider excluding participant from
trip or modifying activity
Equipment
Lack of specialty
medical requirements eg.
Ventolin, antihistamines,
adrenalin, etc.
Ensure all required equipment /
medication is brought on trip
If equipment / medication cannot be
brought on trip or the severity of a
condition would warrant continual or
excessive use of specific equipment in
order to maintain wellbeing consider
excluding person from trip or
modifying activity
Human
Instructors not aware of
Instructors to go through medicals
before trip and be familiar with
pre-existing medical
conditions

necessary procedures and medications
/ equipment
Take all claims of illness seriously
and investigate
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Manuel
handling
accident
Equipment
Heavy loads
Lack of load handling
equipment
Ensure participants do not carry packs
greater than a third of body weight
Human
People not using safe
practice in manual
handling
Brief participants on hazards
encountered during manual handling
and methods to avoid injury

Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 2, RL: 3, Low
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Severe
weather
Environmental
Strong wind
Lightening
Hail
Severe thunderstorm in
progress- DO NOT
PROCEED
Consult the BOM site before trip-
consider modifying or cancelling if
severe weather expected
Seek shelter
DONT stand under large trees as they
may fall or be struck be lightening
Equipment
Flimsy tents
Equipment not pegged
down
Inappropriate clothing
Ensure gear is sturdy for conditions or
take down and put away
Ensure equipment wont blow away
Ensure students have waterproof
clothing on to guard against
hypothermia
Human Use the 30 / 30 rule: 30 seconds or
Instructors continuing
activity in possibly
dangerous conditions
Participants not realising
danger
Group caught out in open
or exposed area
less between lightning flash and
thunder stop activity and avoid high
exposed areas. Only resume activity
30 minutes after last thunder
If less than 15 seconds between flash
and thunder assume lightning position:
people to spread out (> 15m apart) so
that a strike would not take out
everyone (including potential helpers);
take off backpacks; remove and stay
away from metal objects; sit on
anything that may insulate; crouch
down, feet and knees together, put
head down, cover ears with hands and
try to make the smallest target
possible while minimising contact
with the ground
Stay away from trees as they may be
struck by lightning or fall over
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Death or
injury
from
bushfire
Environmental
Hot dry conditions
Large amount of fuel
Lightning strike
Actual bushfire in
progress- DO NOT
PROCEED
Observe fire ratings- use sat. phone to
talk to contact people
Be observant for smoke or signs of
fire
Activity cancelled in extreme and
catastrophic conditions:
- Leave the area the night before or
early in the morning
- If this is not practical, take
immediate action to protect
- Practise or remind the group about
behaviour in the event of a threat
from fire
Realise that dry storms can start fires
in some conditions and observe for
smoke after storms
Equipment
Food requiring cooking
Fuel stoves
If conditions are dangerous for fires
use no cook options
Take care with fuel stoves in dry
conditions.
Human
People not realising
danger of bushfires
Using stoves
inappropriately
Smokers discarding butts
Ensure people realise danger of
bushfires
Do not proceed if fire detected
Avoid being uphill of approaching fire
Dont play with stoves
Ensure smokers do not discard butts in
bush
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Trees or
limbs fall
on person
Environmental
Trees, esp. dead ones or
those with dead limbs
Avoid being under dangerous trees
Avoid camping under any large trees
or areas where trees may drop limbs or
fall on to
Human
No safety brief given
Participants not listening
Tent areas not checked
Ensure participants are aware of
danger of camping under trees
Make sure participants listen to safety
brief
Check tent areas and make sure no
one camps in dangerous areas
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Persons
separate
from
group then
becomes
injured or
ill
Environmental
Darkness
Desert conditions
Wind
Heavy rain
Thick bush
General toilet area used and marked
Supervision increased in conditions
which make it easier to lose someone
Equipment
Lack of torch
Lack of adequate toilet
marking
Ensure participants bring torches
Human
Guides not supervising
correctly for situation /
conditions
Participant wanders off
accidently
Participant looses way
going to toilet or is left
behind by group
Guides to remain vigilant in
supervising group as a whole-
consider head counts and numbering
off
Keep the group close together
between guides
Participants instructed to alert guides
if they need to stop to go to the toilet
Participants to take a torch when
walking at night
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 1-3, RL: 2-4, Very Low to Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Attack
from
crocodiles
causing
injury or
death
Environmental
Crocodile habitats
Water sources
Avoid crocodiles if sighted
Never swim in water where crocodiles
may live
Stay well back from any crocodile
slide marks
Do not walk around at night without a
torch
Camp at least 2m above the high water
mark and at least 50m from the water's
edge
Avoid places where native animals
and domestic stock drink
Never leave food scraps at your
campsite
Be more aware of crocodiles at night
and during the breeding season,
September to April
Equipment
Lack of bandages/
medical supplies
Inadequate/ damaged/
unnoticed warnings signs
Ensure all required equipment /
medication is brought on trip
Never swim in water where crocodiles
may live even if there is no warning
sign present
Human
Participants not aware of
danger of crocodiles
Participants playing with
crocodiles
Ensure participants are aware of
danger of crocodiles
Never provoke, harass or interfere
with crocodiles, even small ones
Never feed crocodiles - it is illegal and
dangerous
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium
Risk Possible contributing
hazards
Management strategies to address
hazards
Drowning Environmental
Strong ocean currents
Strainers, foot
entrapments in rivers
Avoid being in water in dangerous
conditions
Evaluate water before entering
Research current water conditions
prior to trip
Follow advice of locals/ local business
operators
Equipment
Lack of throw ropes/
safety equipment
Ensure all required equipment brought
on trip
Have equipment on hand and
accessible prior to entering water
Human
Participants with poor
swimming skills
Participants with poor
knowledge of dangers of
water
Inattention when
swimming
Lack of knowledge of
throw rope use
Ensure participants are aware of all
potential dangers
Assess and have knowledge of all
participants swimming skills/ training
Ensure participants never swim alone
Trained individuals should be in
charge of throw rope and have on
hand at all times
Prob. + Sev. = RL Prob: 1, Sev: 3, RL: 4, Medium