Introduction & Overview
This document aims to present the association’s policy on risk assessments.
Considerations & Warning
As an instructor or club you have an obligation, under law, to assess risks arising from any particular undertaking (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3). It is a compulsory regulation of the association that all teaching members complete risk assessments prior to instructing classes.
What Is The Purpose Of A Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is designed to enable an instructor or club the opportunity to identify a range of hazards and risks, and take steps to manage those risks.
“The aim of the risk assessment process is to evaluate hazards, then remove that hazard or minimize the level of its risk by adding control measures, as necessary. By doing so, you have created a safer and healthier workplace” – CCOHS
How, When & Where Must They Be Completed?
The association stipulates that as both a condition to membership, and as a condition to membership with insurance, that;
A risk assessment must be conducted prior to training for every individual location that a club or instructor will be teaching.This means if you teach at three separate halls or venues, you must conduct an independent evaluation of each venue prior to use. Prior to training means taking the opportunity to conduct a thorough assessment without the pressures and time constraints of a pending session. We would recommend (but will not bind a member to) conducting an assessment at least 24 hours prior to the session commencing.Risk Assessments should be reviewed annually and you must record this new check, even if nothing has changed on the assessment it’s self.
Risk assessments must be dated and recorded for future reference, and must be accessible to every instructor teaching at a specific venue.You must ensure you date all risk assessments, and any subsequent changes made to the assessment. As the document is designed to help minimize risk, whilst we appreciate steps will be taken after the document’s creation it’s important the document remains easily accessible during classes should an instructor wish to review any particular hazard or a method for minimizing harm.
Visual Risk Assessments
The association recognises that many instructors will perform visual, dynamic risk assessments several times throughout a class or session to remain in control of as many risks or variables as is possible. Whilst this is commended, the requirement for a written risk assessment prior to the session commencing is essential.
If an assessment is not conducted, and an incident occurs.
This guidance is in place to help minimize the opportunity for harm and to keep students safe. In the event that an incident does occur and it is subsequently revealed that a risk assessment has not been conducted, or has not been completed to a reasonable standard, the association will launch an investigation.
The outcome of the investigation could result in, but is not limited to, discipline procedures and where an offence may have been committed the association is bound to pass on the case to the relevant authorities. As this document sets out the association’s official regulation on such a matter, in the event of an insurance claim the insurer may not feel the instructor has taken reasonable steps to mitigate the chance of injury occurring, and may reject a claim.
We provide template risk assessments to help you get started, and cover how to complete a written risk assessment in our business section here.