This page contains an example risk assessment and workplan. Educational resources that you can download from the website will be available soon

Example risk assessment - Spring 2006
For Group Visits to Woodhouse Farm Park.

Establishment – Woodhouse Open Farm
Activity – Group Visit

Significant Hazards

• Journey to and from farm
• New or old wounds becoming infected
• Picking up germs from animals
• Transfer of disease to pregnant women from sheep and lambs (Enzootic Abortion)
• Climbing on gates / fences and leaving gates open
• Escaped animals
• Animal waste
• Slipping on wet surfaces
• Pond area

Who might be harmed?

• School children
• School staff / helpers
• Farm occupants
• Expectant mothers
• Drivers on local adjoining road

Control Measures and how to minimise the risk

The following practices are to reduce the significant hazards identified above to small risks, or remove them altogether. Please also read our code of conduct for all visitors and the code of conduct relating to schools.

• Hand Washing. The risk of catching most germs on farms can be eliminated by good hygiene. Hands must be thoroughly cleansed
• Eating. Food should only be eaten in designated areas. Staff should discourage visitors from eating in animal contact areas
• Feeding the animals. Children should hold their hands out flat when feeding the animals and should not put their fingers into the animals’ mouths. They should only feed food given at the farm and should not taste the animal feed
• Cuts and scratches. These should be cleansed thoroughly and covered up immediately. Old wounds should also be covered
• Pregnant women. If you are pregnant or suspect you might be pregnant you should stay away from any pregnant ewes and new born lambs. This is to avoid the transfer of micro-organisms that can cause illness. Signs will be present at lambing times
• Contact with animals. Animals should be approached quietly and carefully and treated with respect. They should only be handled when farm staff gives permission or signs permit visitors to do so. If an animal escapes please contact a member of staff
• Animal Paddocks and Pens. Going into the animal enclosures by invitation increases the risk of germs being transferred. This risk can be minimised by either bringing a change of footwear in a plastic bag or cleaning footwear before leaving the farm
• Pond area. Supervised access will be given with the accepted ratio of children to staff
• Wet surfaces. Care must be taken by everyone as the farm has many uneven surfaces. Where their is a particular hazard of slippage the area will be partitioned off – if possible – or signs will be placed warning of the dangers
• Journey to and from the farm. The correct adult to pupil ratio will supervise children.

The above risk assessment shows the hazards and the severity of the injury it may cause before and after control measures. (see below for key to ratings).

• As most of the risks fall into 3-5 factor risk assessment (once the above control measures have been carried out). It will be crucial to keep records of incidents to ensure risks are constantly being evaluated and existing precautions are adequate or more should be done
• All incidents should be recorded given full detail of events and outcomes
• A ‘walk around’ will be carried out on the day of the visit

Workplan

This is a Preparation of a Plan of Work, that could be used by your school. However we can tailor make activities or you can direct them your self and simply use our facilities.

For Key Stage 1 - Year 1 – Citizenship
Unit 03; Animals and us
Look at rearing of livestock

Location on farm:

• Look at the Livestock on the farm, in the farm yard and surrounding paddocks. In the various habitats including stables, barns, fields, hutches, pens etc

Pre visit contact with school:

• Talk to interested teacher; ask when the topic is likely to be covered after Easter
• Give copies of code of conduct and talk about risk assessment. Let them see ours and confirm all staff are CRB checked
• Ensure teacher able to cope with any children with behavioural problems. Also check children’s allergies
• Offer chance of pre-visit to farm by teacher and or their risk assessment officer
• Ask what they would like to do on visit

Learning outcomes:

• Most children will have learnt that animals have needs just like humans, and that they need food, water, companionship, shelter and a vet if they are ill. Also the freedom to behave naturally
• They should appreciate why humans should behave responsibly towards animals, including: wild animals, farm animals and pets
• They will identify the wildlife in their area and know how to protect them

Content of visit:

• The children will congregate in the Education room where we will reinforce the code of conduct, fire routines and health and safety issues
• We will tell them about the animals they are about to see and those which they can handle
• We will then go out into the yard and see the animals in pens and stables
• Then collect some eggs, then groom a goat, feed the sheep and give the pigs some clean water. We will also ask them to look out for other wild animals and keep a note of them, and where we spotted them
• We will then clean our hands and have some lunch
• We will then talk about what we saw and look at some animal tackle e.g. hoof clippers, worming syringe etc

Organisation factors:

• To arrive before 10am
• To put on correct footwear and store bags etc in lockers
• Explain facilities – especially hand washing, and code of conduct
• Make sure correct adult pupil ratio is adhered to. Ensure all adults are aware for whom they are responsible

10.30am - Go out and see animals
12.00 - Clean hands and have lunch
12.30pm - Talk about what they have seen and done
1pm - List and identify wild life
1.30pm - Look at various animal equipment
2pm - Free time to play and explore
2.30pm - Leave.

Resources:

• Bug boxes, posters, pictures, actual animals, animal feed, lamb feeding bottles, brushes, worming syringe, eggs, magnifying glass, reference books etc