Risk Assessments on Allotments

[Snadger]

Our allotment Insurers are asking for RA's for our site. Can any grapes point me to a simple RA template with examples please.
I only want a very basic form to keep our Insurers happy and not the long winded affair that i use at work.

I've googled some but they are pretty carp to say the least!

[alldigging]

Erm
I've got one somewhere for bee inspections that I did
That's basically
The risk - the likelihood of it happening, the amount of death/damage it could do / and what actions can be put in place to stop things going wrong.

[Snadger]

Erm
I've got one somewhere for bee inspections that I did
That's basically
The risk - the likelihood of it happening, the amount of death/damage it could do / and what actions can be put in place to stop things going wrong.

Thanks AD............no beehives on our site I'm afraid. I must admit I would dearly like to keep bees but it is beyond my financial resources for the time being.

[Greenleaves]

Hartlepool Borough Council - Downloads

Might help Snadger

[Snadger]

Hartlepool Borough Council - Downloads

Might help Snadger

Thanks GL.........I'd already sourced this one on Gurgle. Its ok, but it just doesn't float my boat. Hoping for something that just jumps out at me and says "This is EXACTLY what you've been looking for!

[Greenleaves]

If you want to send me a list of the hazards on your site I will draw it up for you, spent 40 years doing them.

[Snadger]

If you want to send me a list of the hazards on your site I will draw it up for you, spent 40 years doing them.

Thanks GL. I've managed to do an Excel spreadsheet with a dumbed down version. The RA's I do for work are too longwinded.

[Cadalot]

Here are the H&S Guidelines that our council have put up on their allotments - they seem to have missed taking your eye out on a bamboo cane but it gives you material to consider

• Do not drink the water from the tanks or standpipes
• Wear gloves whenever handling soil, compost, fertiliser or pesticides. Thin latex (or latex-free for allergy sufferers) gloves can be worn for delicate work.
• Do not open bags of compost or potting media with your head right over it.
• Fold over the top of compost bags when not in use.
• Avoid potting-up in confined spaces.
• Moisten dry potting media before use. Also dampen down dry compost heaps before turning or use.
• Consider wearing a dust mask when turning compost heaps and handling potting media or other dusty materials.
• Avoiding storing potting media in greenhouses as these will heat up and may encourage Legionella.
• Empty the water out of garden hoses after use and do not leave full hoses in the sun after use.
• Avoid splashing water around when watering pots.
• Wear gloves and keep arms covered when pruning plants that can cause irritations; e.g. ivy (Hedera), Fremontodendron, Euphorbia or rue (Ruta).
• Only shred woody prunings in an open, well-ventilated area.
• Ensure tetanus jabs are up to date. Otherwise, see your local GP for a tetanus vaccination if you have cut yourself on a plant or got soil or manure in an open wound.
• Discourage rats by securing rubbish in bins and not putting cooked food on the compost heap.
• Rat-proof compost bins with wire mesh if necessary. To reduce the risks from salmonella avoid using rat-infested compost on edible crops, especially those not cooked before consumption.
• Protect from water-borne diseases such as Weil’s disease by wearing waterproof gloves, clothing and boots when clearing out ponds.
• Always wash your hands after gardening and especially before eating.
• Keep a hand sterilising gel down in the potting shed if clean water is not available.
• Children should always be accompanied by an adult and supervised on site

[Nicos]

Gosh!^^^ that's quite a list!...
I can see where they are coming from, but I wonder how many of us do more than 2 or 3 of those!!

Oh- and welcome to the Vine!

[Potstubsdustbins]

How about a dumbed down version.

Everyone shall use good old fashioned common sense and be responsible for the safety of themselves and others............

[veggiechicken]

.............and not claim compensation when they do something stupid

[alldigging]

Can I add:

Never go up a ladder on your own.


Hmm, now that sounds like you should only go up in pairs. Always have someone holding the ladder. And they can ring the ambulance.

[veggiechicken]

Wouldn't they have to let go of the ladder to ring the ambulance?

[Martin H]

I've had to do stuff like this for elf and safety at work. Never thought it would come in useful ...

I would just set up a simple spreadsheet, with four columns:

Description of the risk
Actions already taken to minimise the risk
Further actions required (if any)
Date for actions completed

Make sure you review and update it at least once a year, because if you let it lapse the insurers won't pay out if anything happens.

Obviously what you put in as relevant risks depends on what you're insuring.

So just as an example, a risk might be,
- injury to plotholders from slipping or tripping on paths between allotments
Associated actions could be,
- t's and c's oblige all plotholders to keep paths around their plot free of weeds and obstructions;
- committee inspects all paths monthly between March and November and issues reminders to plotholders if appropriate.

Like this example, most risks won't need you to do anything other than explain what's already in place. So there's a risk of theft of plotholders equipment, but this is covered by your fencing and key issue policy and your t's and c's that say everything left on site is at owner's risk.

Have fun!

[Snadger]

I've had to do stuff like this for elf and safety at work. Never thought it would come in useful ...

I would just set up a simple spreadsheet, with four columns:

Description of the risk
Actions already taken to minimise the risk
Further actions required (if any)
Date for actions completed

Make sure you review and update it at least once a year, because if you let it lapse the insurers won't pay out if anything happens.

Obviously what you put in as relevant risks depends on what you're insuring.

So just as an example, a risk might be,
- injury to plotholders from slipping or tripping on paths between allotments
Associated actions could be,
- t's and c's oblige all plotholders to keep paths around their plot free of weeds and obstructions;
- committee inspects all paths monthly between March and November and issues reminders to plotholders if appropriate.

Like this example, most risks won't need you to do anything other than explain what's already in place. So there's a risk of theft of plotholders equipment, but this is covered by your fencing and key issue policy and your t's and c's that say everything left on site is at owner's risk.

Have fun!

Basically what I've done Martin. Life's to short!