Clay Farm Community Garden Risk Assessment

Transcription

1 Hazard Risk Who is at risk? Likelihood Controls in place/action required Check (Tick) Microbial Co-ordinators If working with manures wear gloves. Animal manures contamination Volunteers Low Wash hands thoroughly in tap water at the (potentially completion of the task. pathogenic) These are natural inhabitants of the garden Co-ordinators and pose no risk unless provoked. Bees, wasps and Stings Volunteers Low Venue supervisor must be aware of anyone insects who is allergic to specific insects. Seek first aid if stung. Be on the look out for nests and, if discovered, report to Venue supervisor Adopt an environmentally sensitive Co-ordinators approach to garden. If used, should be used Chemicals used Inhalation, skin Volunteers High by a qualified adult in the specified manner. in the garden or eye contact Chemical should be properly stored and Passers by if it is deemed necessary to use them, a separate COSHH risk assessment should be carried out. Children Instruct not to climb objects in the garden. Climbing Falling Volunteers Low Adequate supervision. Airborne Co-ordinators Avoid turning compost particles Volunteers Flies Moderate Avoid putting cooked food on compost heap Composting Lifting/turning Passers by Vermin 1

2 Danger from Co-ordinators Emergency evacuation procedures to be in place and understood by all participants. Emergency exits to be kept clear at all times. Assembly point identified and all participants aware of it. heat, fire and Volunteers Bonfires should have venue supervisor in Fire smoke Moderate charge of then at all times. Passers by A water source and buckets or hose should be to hand in case fire gets out of control. The fire must be out and thoroughly doused with water at the at the end of the day. Everyone to wash their hands after touching plants/compost and before handling food Co-ordinators and drink. Infection Volunteers Low Cuts and abrasions should be covered before gardening or ensure gloves are worn. Stout footwear to be worn. If sharp objects such as needles are found, volunteers should be told not to touch them and to alert the Venue supervisor. Lifting Injury, strain Co-ordinators People are not to lift heavy objects or to Volunteers Low overfill wheelbarrows where in use. Buy organic mulch materials in bags from a Airborne reputable source or use a weed suppressant. particles Alternatively use shredded paper layers of Mulching Co-ordinators Moderate cardboard or home made compost. Fungi Volunteers Reduce risk of airborne particles by wetting Turning loose mulch materials before applying. 2

3 People to be made aware of hazards and Plant supports Damage to eyes Co-ordinators to take care when leaning over beds. Volunteers Moderate Cane toppers can be used when the height is less than 1.8 m. Do not plant potentially poisonous plants Ingestion e.g. daffodils in edible beds. Plants Allergic reaction Co-ordinators Label any potentially poisonous plants and Poisonous Volunteers Moderate tell children not to eat anything without Falling branches first checking with an adult. Flicking branches Volunteers to wear dust masks if they are Thorns and stings allergic to plants. Volunteers to wear eye protection if possible if working in bushes and to be aware of flicking branches. Venue supervisor to make volunteers aware of any poisonous, stinging or thorny plants and fungi. Volunteers to be made aware where there is the possibility of debris falling from trees and shrubs. Running Slips, trips and Children Moderate Children adequately supervised and told to children falls walk in the garden. Soil Check whether people have had tetanus Tetanus Low inoculation before the season starts Toxoplasmosis Co-ordinators Moderate Hands must be thoroughly washed at the Volunteers end of each session and before eating food/ drinking. Check garden before work starts and remove and bury any animal mess away from the garden whilst wearing gloves. Wash trowel and hands afterwards. 3

4 Skin irritation Low Gloves to be worn when working with soil. Proprietary compost e.g. for seed sowing can be handled without gloves but hands must be washed afterwards. Soil blowing into Low Bags of compost or potting medium eyes should be opened with head away from the opening as far as practically possible. Moisten dry compost/potting medium before using. Avoid storing compost/potting medium in a greenhouse or other warm places. Avoid using loose compost and digging/ raking soil in dry and windy conditions. Compost heaps - see above. Volunteers should take care when pushing, filling or tipping wheelbarrows. These should not be too heavily laden for the user to Tools Injury, trips and Co-ordinators Moderate manage easily. When left full, they should be falls. Cuts and Volunteers well balanced so they do not easily tip over. getting hit. All tools counted "out" and "in". Appropriate type and size of tool to be selected for use by children. Tool stop point to be clearly identified and all tools to be returned here when not is use during a session. Ensure adequate working space for people when they are working around garden beds. Because of the location of the garden, small Traffic Injury from Children High children will need to be constantly vehicles supervised. 4

5 Water Clay Farm Community Garden Children should be shown how to water plants Slips, trips and Co-ordinators Moderate correctly to avoid soaking pathways. falls Volunteers Hosepipes should be coiled/rolled up after use and not left lying where they could become a trip hazard. Working procedures should be designed to keep water spillages and run off to a minimum. Drinking Water butts must have child proof locked lids and should be firmly secured on a stable surface. Washing hands Children must not wash their hands or garden produce to eat with water from water butts. Water borne bugs When using water from the butts for watering and infections people must wash their hands afterwards. Water butts should be emptied and scrubbed out once a year. This job should be carried out Water butts Drowning Co-ordinators Moderate by an adult wearing face mask and gloves. Hoses Volunteers Water butts should be kept in a cool position as Ponds/water far as practically possible. If not consideration courses be given to insulation or light reflecting paint. Empty water out of full hoses after use. N.B. full hoses left in the sun or warm conditions may breed micro-organisms e.g. Legionella. If there are ponds or water courses, small children must be closely supervised at all times 5

6 Appropriate clothing to be worn for the weather Sunburn Co-ordinators conditions. Adequate fluids to be drunk when it Weather Dehydration Volunteers Moderate is hot and work activities to be planned in shady Hypothermia areas where possible. Everyone to apply own sun cream and wear hats. Supply of sun cream available for those who have forgotten it. In wet weather paths can become slippery. Close paths if too slippery and revise activities to minimise risk of slipping. For children no running to, from and within the area. Wear appropriate footwear. If gardens become flooded and waterlogged Potential Co-ordinators do not harvest crops from these areas for Weather flooding (pathogenic) Volunteers High consumption and relocate garden in unflooded microbial area. Do not grow crops in flooded area for at contamination least two years after the flood. 6