Risk assessment for evening visits to Rushall Farm during lambing (Brownies, Cubs etc.) sites & activities updated 31 st January 2012 SITE NAME: Rushall farm GRID REF: SU 589 726 OWNER: W. Cumber & son (Theale) Ltd TEL. NO: 0118 9744 547 ASSESSORS: Cliff Marriott DATE OF ASSESSMENT: 9 th January 2012 NEAREST HOSPITAL: Royal Berkshire, Craven Road, Reading (0118 987 5111), West Berkshire Community Hospital, Thatcham (01635 273300) SITE ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES: from Scratchface Lane RUSHALL FARMYARD Loading and unloading children onto vehicles in the yard Moving regular farm vehicles in and out of the yard (HIGH/ MEDIUM/ high Child caution signs on approach to yard, replaced Feb 2010 Staff awareness and training Parking areas for farm and Trust staff by Rushall House and at back of yard. No park signs and coaches turning signs outside Rushall Cottage, updated Feb 2010 1. Staff awareness and training 2. Child caution signs on approach to yard 3. Adequate supervision of children 4. Health and safety talk to all visiting groups Contractors bringing machinery into yard Stationary machinery and implements Shed door opposite the sheep race and large metal door into sheep race Dirty and dangerous surfaces on gates, sheep race, sheep pens etc high 1. Child caution signs on approach to yard, replaced Feb 2010 2. Children in Yard Max Speed 5MPH sign at entrance to yard (NFU). Replaced Feb 2010 3. Adequate supervision of children 4. Health and safety talk to all visiting groups 1. Implements to be stored in stable fashion resting on the ground or removed from site where possible. 2. Keys to be removed from ignition (farm staff briefed Feb 2010) 1. Keep door closed, handle replaced Feb 2011 2. Health and safety talk to cover that children stay with leaders and ask if unsure 3. Metal door liable to be bn by wind, either closed or secured back with catch. Cliff to check 1. Warn children prior to start of visit 2. Staff monitoring on daily basis and cleaning where appropriate (See Spreadsheet) 3. Hurdles to be jet washed before lambing (See Spreadsheet)
4. Hands to be washed after contact Hurdles in and around Make secure or remove from visited areas lambing shed not secured General untidiness in orphan lamb area Clear this area each morning prior to visit (Cliff to allocate this task) Brooms, forks and other tools in aisle areas in and around lambing shed 1. Store away from paths regularly used by children (liaise with farm staff) 2. Warn visiting school groups advise caution Medicine cabinet and assorted medicines close to washing up area 1. Store loose medicines in locked cupboard. Checked Feb 2010 lock in good condition. 2. Instruct staff to keep area free of medicines 3. Health and safety talk 4. Supervision of children when hand washing Muck on floor in and around farmyard 1. Trust staff to monitor as part of safety checks and remove. 2. Boot cleaning at the end of each visit includes biosecurity Muck on sheep hurdles from birds 1. Trust staff to include on safety checks. 2. Warn children and conduct hand washing where needed Muck on bars at cows and donkeys 1. Trust staff to include on safety checks. 2. Warn children and conduct hand washing where needed 3. Educational staff to clean before visit Trailer outside cowshed Children told not to climb on trailer Floor in washing up area Education staff to clean before each visit Cupboards in washing up area containing cleaning products Chemicals stored high. Children told not to open cupboards. New sign erected Feb 2010 and in mobile toilets Electricity supply to shearing Turn off electricity supply when not in use. Barrier implements Disease and hygiene around lambing shed Stationary farm machinery and other stored equipment erected when shearing. 1. Erect several signs at key points (e.g. entrance to farm), and ensure visibility, updated Feb 2010 including warnings to pregnant women 2. Lambs already tested for crypto. at start of lambing. Manager to monitor health status of sheep. 3. Health and safety talk to all visiting groups 4. Good procedures foled by staff (see health and safety notes and procedures set down in staff pack). 1. Check regularly for loose and dangerous parts ed. staff 2. Ensure all machinery is flat on the ground or roped off 3. Keys not to be left in machines when visits are ongoing (NFU). Farm staff briefed Feb 2010 Workshop 1. Out of bounds 2. Door to workshop to be kept closed at other times
Diesel tank, risk of spillage 1. Fix lock to tank (new lock in place 2011) 2. Loose diesel cans to be kept in workshop 3. children not to operate tank Chemical store Keep locked (no harmful chemicals contained within) Seed Drill. Spikes at rear risk of cuts & grazes, also at eye level for small children 1. Health & Safety talk 2. Children specifically told to avoid seed drill Dust in grain store At least one set of doors to remain open when groups are in grain store. Health & safety talk children asked about allergies and told about dust in grain store and First Aid form returned in advance of visit to brief Trust staff. Children reminded that air may be dusty and to stand outside if necessary. Grain Store switches Children informed not to operate lights, dryer etc. Grain store doors risk of children trapping fingers Back of grain store and silage area multiple trip hazards, loosely stacked items, dead animals. Broken / old parts of gates & feeders stored. Old diesel tank and gates leading to it Bales of straw and hay. Risk of children climbing. Risk of tires on top falling. 1. Trust staff to operate doors 2. Trust staff to outline in H&S talk 1. Area out of bounds unless actively engaged in Machinery activity when foling Trust staff or going to see pigs / returning from soil sampling. Once again lad by Trust staff who will pick appropriate route. 2. Trust Staff to check safety of stacks prior to visits 3. Tire covered stacks are temporary and also children told to not stand beneath them. Signs erected to warn of danger Bales of Silage. Risk of children climbing Grundon. Risk of children climbing Blinds on lambing shed. Risk of wrapping up rapidly 2. Broken blinds replaced Rats 1. All lunches to be stored above ground and, in plastic containers if possible. This advice given to teaching staff on pre-visit 2. Cover this on health and safety talk. 3. Poison in appropriate bait boxes only RISK ASSESSMENT AREA AROUND RUSHALL FARM BUILDINGS Path above chalk pit rotten trees, steep banks, barbed wire. (HIGH/ MEDIUM/ Medium *No use for under 7s *Careful supervision in cases where children are considered safe and sensible
Chalk pit trip hazards especially when wet. Unstable trees and vegetation above chalk pit *Replace barbed wire *Stile repaired Jan 08 *Path cleared autumn 2011 *Warn children to avoid when doing sheep herding Out of bounds on school visits marked path used *Supervise access to the area recommend that children stay on left hand side of site *Advise caution on site 1 of woodland trail gate into sheep race avoided when wet Chicken house Children not to enter Steep Bank in chalk pit field Medium Children told not to run down bank when wet slippery when wet. RISK ASSESSMENT - ACTIVITIES (HIGH, MEDIUM, Activity: ANIMALS E.coli Liase with leader as to whether they are prepared for children to touch animals. If yes then as per usual wash hands immediately after contact with animals. Have anti-bacterial gel on hand throughout visit and use appropriately. Above covered in H&S talk. If children entering animal pens i.e. when orphan lambs are older then ensure boots are cleaned before changing shoes / getting on the transport. And as part of H&S talk advise washing footwear used at farm once home. Ensure children are not wearing gloves. Orf Farm & JST staff to monitor lambs for signs of Orf. Hygiene as above essential and make sure no child has broken skin on Watching a lambing may result in fainting Dirty and dangerous surfaces on gates, sheep race, sheep pens etc hands when touching sheep (covered in H&S talk) Monitor children and beware they could faint and fall possibly onto a hard surface JST staff first aid trained, during First Aid training children advised to mention to trust staff if feeling faint. JST staff looking out for signs of fainting Warn children prior to start of visit Staff monitoring on daily basis and cleaning where appropriate (see Spreadsheet) Hurdles to be jet washed before lambing (see Spreadsheet) Hands to be washed after contact Hurdles in use not secured Make secure or remove from visited areas General untidiness in orphan lamb area (March May) Clear this area each morning prior to visit (Cliff to allocate this task) Brooms, forks and other tools in aisle areas in and around lambing shed Store away from paths regularly used by children (liaise with farm staff) Warn visiting school groups advise caution Big barn doors not properly secured Cliff to check that doors are securely fastened especially in Farm and delivery vehicles moving around yard windy weather Speed restriction signs updated Feb 2010 Children in Yard Max Speed 5mph Farm staff to be made aware when there are groups in
the yard Health & safety make children aware of moving vehicles and instruct to stay as a group Activity: FEEDING DONKEYS Donkeys biting Children shown how to hold hand flat Donkeys kicking Children warned not to approach rear of donkeys Activity: COMBINE HARVESTER & MACHINERY Climbing into combine harvester cab / JST leader to enter cab first, teacher to assist children at bottom of ladder. Only three children aled in cab at any one time. Children instructed to climb down ladder backwards (demonstration given by JST staff) No Foundation children Little Blue Tractor Medium 1 child at a time bales to aid getting on and off children told only to board and leave the tractor via the bales children told no climbing on the tractor Activity: FEELY BOX Allergies to contents Teachers asked about potential allergies beforehand and sent a First Aid form to return before the visit. Activity: TRAILER RIDE Overhanging branches and brambles on trailer ride routes (HIGH, MEDIUM, Check for and remove any potentially dangerous overhanging vegetation on routes to be used that day. Frequently used trailer routes regularly maintained. (see spreadsheet) Open sided trailer Safety talk given by Trust leader before every ride to ensure children i) stay seated at all times when trailer is moving; ii) keep hands, feet and heads inside of green bars; and iii) hold onto green bars if necessary. Teachers and parents to sit evenly spaced between children in order for them to reach across if necessary. JST leader or teacher to sit at back of trailer, not children, with chain secured across doorway before departing. Trailer driver instructed to drive sly when children are on board, and made especially aware of very young children on a visit. Max speed 18mph on road, 10mph on farm tracks (see sticker in tractor cab) All trailer drivers in possession of Lantra certificate or suitably experienced Cliff Marriott, 9 th January 2012