Safety

Health & Safety

Below is the Risk Assessment of the club, (take from the Rambler’s Association website.)

Group walks – risk assessment

Use this risk assessment to help you understand the risks and any steps you need to take to stay safe before leading a group walk.

Please complete a copy for every walk and keep this for one year after the date of the walk.

Walk Leader			Date of walk
Ramblers group / scheme name			Date of risk assessment
			Date of recce
Possible hazards	Who might be harmed and how?	Ways to control the risk		Action taken? (click on the box to tick)
Transmission of COVID-19 through close contact / meeting other people	Walkers, members of the public – risk of spreading COVID-19	Plan the walk for a less busy time.
		Avoid particularly busy or narrow routes where physical distancing is not possible.
		Give clear information about limiting the group size in line with government guidance.
		Remind walkers beforehand about the guidelines, including on travel & transport.
		Advise walkers at the start of the walk to maintain physical distancing, and what to do at any pinch points or road crossings – this is everyone’s responsibility.
		Carry a face covering in case of incidents.
		Ensure you have a record of who attended the walk, for contact tracing.
Transmission of COVID-19 through touching gates, stiles, fences or equipment	Walkers, members of the public – risk of spreading COVID-19	Avoid touching gates and path furniture where possible.
		Suggest walkers bring hand sanitiser.
		Advise walkers not to share food, drink or equipment such as walking poles.

Bad weather (including extreme temperatures)	Walkers – risk of illness and injury, risk of the group being stranded	Check the weather forecast and postpone/cancel if necessary. Advise walkers to bring suitable clothing and items for the conditions.
		Make a note of ‘escape routes’ on the recce.
Busy roads	Walkers – risk of vehicle collisions	Avoid routes along busy roads and/or check for suitable crossing places on the recce.
Steep, slippery or muddy sections.	Walkers – risk of trips/slips	Check for muddy/slippery sections on the recce and adapt the route if necessary. Advise walkers to bring suitable footwear for the conditions.
Livestock	Walkers – risk of injury Risk of property damage if livestock escape	Cross fields with livestock calmly and quietly, keeping the group together. Be prepared to divert around livestock if necessary.
		Follow the Countryside Code (England & Wales) and Access Code (Scotland). Leave gates and property as you find them.
Cliffs or sheer drops	Walkers – risk of falls	Check paths are suitable for a group to use safely and make changes if necessary.
		Follow any local warnings or signs, and advise walkers to keep away from the edge.
(Please add more lines if needed)

If you have any questions about Ramblers group walks, please get in touch: oakleyramblers@gmail.com

How to carry out a risk assessment

This template is a tool to help you plan and lead Ramblers group walks safely. You must do a risk assessment for each walk.

Use the template to assess whether your Ramblers group walk is safe to go ahead.
We’ve included suggestions for the ways to control the risks – you do not need to tick every box. The important thing is to identify the potential hazards and note the actions you will take to reduce the risk.
It’s important to carry out a risk assessment before the walk takes place. You should start filling it out when planning your walk, and update it with any extra hazards that you notice on your recce.
Think about the different types of hazards and risks. We’ve included some common examples, but think carefully about your own walk in case anything needs adding.

Examples of other risks might include:

o Flooded paths, after heavy rain

o Incoming tide for coastal routes

o Unexploded ordnance (if walking on a right of way across a military site)

This isn’t an exhaustive list, so think carefully about any specific risks you may encounter on your walk.

Next, consider the steps you can take to minimise the risk. Remember that this may sometimes mean changing your original plan. For example:
- I will recce the route again to check whether the paths are flooded, and plan an alternative if necessary
- I will check the local tide times and adjust the walk start time
- I will read the local warning signs on my recce and advise walkers about the risks in my welcome briefing
If you’re not sure what to do to reduce the risk, check our website for advice , or contact us at volunteersupport@ramblers.zendesk.com

Your volunteering & COVID-19

Due to COVID-19, there are extra steps we need to take to organise and lead group walks safely. Please visit the Ramblers website for the latest updates and guidance.

It’s essential for all volunteers to consider the following questions, when deciding whether to take part in Ramblers activities:

Do you (or does someone else from

your household) have

COVID-19 symptoms?

If so, you should self-isolate in line with government guidelines.

You must not take part in Ramblers activities during this time.

Symptoms include a high temperature, a new continuous cough and the loss, or a change to your sense of smell or taste. Find out more about COVID-19, and what you should do if you have symptoms on the NHS website in England, Wales or Scotland.

Are you ‘clinically vulnerable’?

If you (or someone you live with) are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus, you should take extra care to minimise contact with others from outside your household.

Taking part in a Ramblers activity may put you and those around you at higher risk. It may not be the right decision at this time.

Remember – everyone over 70, and those with certain underlying health conditions are considered to be ‘clinically vulnerable’. You can find more information from the NHS in England, Wales or Scotland.

Last updated 20/08/2020

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