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Risk assessments are undertaken and reviewed regularly for all activities at The Outward Bound Trust. Below are examples of risk assessments for just some of our activities. Please contact your chosen centre if you would like to see actual risk assessments for the activities on your course.
 Caving
Dinghy sailing
Hill walking
Canoeing
Gorge walking
Ullswater steamer (pdf)
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Caving
This assessment was undertaken by:
Bob Barton, Safety Advisor to The Outward Bound Trust
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Hazard
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Who might be harmed?
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Control measures
|
Strain injury |
Participants |
Warm up and mobilise joints before activity |
System flooding |
All |
Use caves with minimal flood problems
Close attention to weather forecast and warning signals
Leave route information |
Panic and/or claustrophobia |
Participants |
Progression
Supportive approach
Appropriate choice of escapable caves
Challenge by choice |
Falls |
All |
Avoid exposed sections
Use close supervision and rope protection when necessary |
Impact injuries |
All |
Protective clothing and helmets |
Hypothermia |
Participants |
Close supervision
Ensure access to shelter and warm clothes
Staff carry spares and warm drinks
Activity may be aborted in adverse conditions |
Entrapment |
Participants |
Choose appropriate cave with alternative routes
Challenge by choice
Progression |
Infected cuts |
Participants |
Good hygiene |
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Dinghy Sailing
This assessment was undertaken by:
Bob Barton, Safety Advisor to The Outward Bound Trust
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Hazard
|
Who might be harmed?
|
Control measures
|
Struck by boom |
Participants |
Warn and train participants
Rig boom if possible |
Capsize / man overboard |
Participants |
Practice capsize drill
Safety briefing
Harness and life jackets
Supervision by rescue craft |
Tangled with rigging |
Participants |
Encourage tidying of sheets
Supervision
Rescue craft carries cutting gear |
Strained back |
All |
Teach and practice safe lifting of heavy gear |
Collision |
All |
Good lookout |
Drowning |
All |
All wear flotation at all times |
Trapped fingers |
All |
Care when coming alongside |
Hypothermia |
All |
Good gear, close supervision in adverse conditions
Rescue craft carries warm gear |
Cuts and bruises |
All |
Cautious movement and proper footware |
Sunburn |
Participants |
Control of exposure |
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Hill Walking
This assessment was undertaken by:
Bob Barton, Safety Advisor to The Outward Bound Trust
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Hazard
|
Who might be harmed?
|
Control measures
|
Exhaustion |
Participants |
Good supervision and interaction with participants
Appropriate pacing and choice of route |
Hypothermia |
Participants |
Good equipment and good leadership needed
Self-equipped, self-led groups most at risk
Some medications increase risk |
Heat stroke |
Participants |
Not to be underestimated in hot weather - life-threatening
Management of exposure to sun and hydration |
Blisters |
Participants |
Careful boot fitting
Monitoring onset and giving an early treatment |
Sprained ankle |
Participants |
Supervision and briefing
Crepe bandages for treatment |
Drowning |
All |
Spate rivers can present a major hazard in some locations
Do not cross except in extremis
Swimming only under supervision of qualified staff |
Rock fall |
All |
Good route choice and party management |
Sunburn |
Participants |
Protection and avoidance |
Insect bite |
Participants |
In rare cases, anaphylatic shock can be life threatening |
Separated from group |
Participants |
Close supervision by instructor
Self-led groups most at risk |
Crag falls |
All |
Instructor awareness and supervision
Risk varies with terrain
Poor visibility, convex slopes and old cornices all contribute |
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Hill Walking
This assessment was undertaken by:
Bob Barton, Safety Advisor to The Outward Bound Trust
|
Hazard
|
Who might be harmed?
|
Control measures
|
Exhaustion |
Participants |
Good supervision and interaction with participants
Appropriate pacing and choice of route |
Hypothermia |
Participants |
Good equipment and good leadership needed
Self-equipped, self-led groups most at risk
Some medications increase risk |
Heat stroke |
Participants |
Not to be underestimated in hot weather - life-threatening
Management of exposure to sun and hydration |
Blisters |
Participants |
Careful boot fitting
Monitoring onset and giving an early treatment |
Sprained ankle |
Participants |
Supervision and briefing
Crepe bandages for treatment |
Drowning |
All |
Spate rivers can present a major hazard in some locations
Do not cross except in extremis
Swimming only under supervision of qualified staff |
Rock fall |
All |
Good route choice and party management |
Sunburn |
Participants |
Protection and avoidance |
Insect bite |
Participants |
In rare cases, anaphylatic shock can be life threatening |
Separated from group |
Participants |
Close supervision by instructor
Self-led groups most at risk |
Crag falls |
All |
Instructor awareness and supervision
Risk varies with terrain
Poor visibility, convex slopes and old cornices all contribute |
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Gorge walking
This assessment was undertaken by:
Bob Barton, Safety Advisor to The Outward Bound Trust
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Hazard
|
Who might be harmed?
|
Control measures
|
Panic in water |
Participants |
Check water confidence
Close supervision |
Slips |
All |
Safety briefing
Close group control
Avoidance of hazardous locations
Use of rope as necessary |
Rockfall |
All |
Site-specific risk assessment
Helmets used
Careful positioning of party |
Drowning |
All |
Staff and participants wear helmets and bouyancy aids unless by special authorisation by General Manager (in the case of low water conditions) |
Hypothermia |
All |
Good gear, close supervision
Accessible locations in adverse conditions
Ensure access to shelter and warm clothes in the event of immersion
Staff carry spares and warm drinks |
Entrapment |
All |
Site-specific risk assessment
Inspection of pools and chutes by instructor |
Flood water |
All |
Monitor levels and weather forecast
abort if danger of flood water |
Impact injury |
All |
Wear protective clothing
Plunge pools to be carefully assessed especially in low water conditions |
Infections |
All |
Good hygiene with cuts and scrapes
Avoid swallowing water |
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