Risk Assessment
Why is risk assessment important?
Risk assessment is important for two principal reasons:
Firstly, it ensures that the people in your care are as safe as possible, and that an easily avoidable incident does not occur. Clients come onto a cycle training course to learn how to cycle in a safe manner - not to have an accident and return home injured. This is both detrimental to the principals of safe cycling and negligence on the behalf of the instructor. Remember, instructors and scheme organisers have a Duty of Care to everybody participating in an activity.
Secondly, risk assessment is important as it prevents a client or their lawyers suing the instructor or the scheme organiser because simple precautions were not put in place.
Everything the risk assessor does whilst performing the risk assessment must be recorded. This is a legal requirement and actually proves that the risk assessment has been carried out.
Is risk assessment difficult?
Do not be put off by the phrase Risk Assessment; it is not a difficult process, it is a process that we all perform automatically anyway, every cyclist sub consciously assesses the condition of the road surface and traffic levels whilst cycling. As long as a few simple steps are followed in sequence and then recorded, the risk assessment process is quite straightforward. It is clear that as well as roads, all areas where members of the public are taken will need to be risk assessed as well; this includes any classrooms or offices used. The activity, the venue, the equipment (bikes etc) and the people (both clients and third parties) all need to be assessed.
There are two distinct types of risk assessment that are relevant to cycle training - Static risk assessment and Dynamic risk assessment. The essential differences are that Static risk assessment is a formalised recorded process that is kept for future reference. Dynamic risk assessment is where an instructor continuously assesses the changing conditions where the instruction is taking place. Correct Dynamic risk assessment is the key which maintains our activities safe.
Emergency Procedures
The emergency procedure is a written process that informs the instructor what he or she should do in case something does go wrong. Cycle training is an inherently safe activity but the instructors still need to have a valid emergency procedure.
The procedure formalises what each instructor should do if something does go wrong. By creating this document it takes the onus off the instructor to make more than the necessary decisions whilst in a moment of stress, i.e. under accident conditions. As long as the instructor follows the agreed emergency process, without appearing to deviate from it, then that instructor will be seen to have done everything possible to minimise problems. This means that the instructor is legally protected.
The National Standard
This is divided into three sections which cover how to:
- Identify and deal with hazards, reduce risks in the training environment
- Prepare equipment and facilities for the session
- Deal with emergencies, injuries and signs of illness
A. Identify and deal with hazards, reduce risks in the training environment
What you must do to meet The National Standard
- Follow procedure for cycle training risk assessment in the instructor guidance
- Get additional advice if you are unable to assess a specific risk
- Take action to control risks, including implementation of all items in National Standard Instructor's Guide
- Obtain up to date information on health and safety procedures for cycle training and for any facilities or location you are to use
- Follow the Health and Safety guidelines for cycle training
- Complete any required documentation; including the risk assessment form
- Encourage your colleagues and clients to behave safely explaining the reasons for safe behaviour and what might happen if they do not behave safely
- Pass on suggestions for improving safety and procedures on to course organisers and or the accrediting organisation
To be competent in this unit you must demonstrate minimum levels of knowledge accompanying each item of the standard.
What you must cover
The following are minimums that can be assessed during instructor training but must include “real” clients and situations.
The instructor must complete all of the following:
- Identify potential hazards
- Decide whether a hazard poses significant risk of harm
- Evaluate that risk
- Manage that risk
- Provide adequate records
The instructor will be required to demonstrate practically a risk assessment for all of the following:
- Prior to an instruction session
- Dynamically during instruction
- For the environment in which they will be working
- For the activity to be carried out
- For the people involved in the session
The instructor must demonstrate for a range of clients and locations an assessment of:
- The clients' health and ability
- The clients' cycle and clothing/equipment
- Risk to the public/other road users/property
- The environment for training - specific venues & proposed journeys
- Identified and dealt with unsafe client behaviours during training
The instructor must have:
- Delivered safe cycle training and information to clients in a manner encourages them to cycle recommend cycling to others
- Not put off the clients by implying that cycling is dangerous
B. Prepare equipment and facilities for the session
What you must do to meet The National Standard:
- Select and obtain equipment and a location that are suitable for the clients and a location
- Make sure that the equipment and facilities meet health and safety requirements and local codes of practice
- Identify any unsafe or unserviceable equipment and facilities and follow the correct procedure for dealing with those
- Encourage and help the clients to prepare equipment and facilities in line with your organisation's procedures
- Prepare equipment and facilities in a way that reduces harm to the local environment and injury to self and others
To be competent in this unit you must demonstrate minimum levels of knowledge accompanying each item of the standard
What you must cover:
From your work you must demonstrate that you have prepared equipment and facilities for the following:
Clients:
- Adults
- Children and young people
- People with particular needs (optional)
Session:
- Recreational cycling
- Curriculum based i.e. Cycle Training Certificate
- Encouraging future participation and progress in cycling
C. Deal with emergencies, injuries and signs of illness
What you must do to meet the National Standard:
- Remain calm and follow your organisation?s procedures carrying out your role calmly and correctly
- Protect the casualty and other people involved from further risk and give clear instructions
- Call for qualified assistance that is appropriate to the casualty's condition
- Provide reassurance and comfort to those involved
- Give the qualified assistance clear and accurate information about what happened
- Follow accident reporting procedures
- Report any problems with the emergency procedures to the relevant colleague i.e. Health and Safety representative
To be competent in this unit you must demonstrate minimum levels of knowledge accompanying each item of the standard.
What you must cover
The following are minimums that can be assessed during instructor training but must include realistic clients and situations.
You must demonstrate that you have the knowledge to enable you to assist at least two of the following:
Casualty:
- Adult
- Young Person
- Person with particular needs
Emergency assistance:
- Qualified first aider
- Emergency services
Condition:
- Minor injury/illness that can be dealt with on-site
- Major injury/illness requiring medical attention
Click here to download the full CTSB Risk Assessment guidance
