Risk Assessment for River Fieldwork

📋 Risk Assessment for River Fieldwork

A risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates the severity of the risk, and describes how it will be managed. In the exam, expect to be asked to "describe how you would carry out a risk assessment" or "identify two risks and explain how they were reduced." Always mention specific control measures — "be careful" is not a control measure.

Hazard	Potential Harm	Control Measure
Slipping on wet rocks or riverbed	Broken bones, head injury from falling in water	Wear non-slip waterproof footwear; use a buddy system (students work in pairs, one steadies the other); avoid standing on slippery boulders
Fast or deep water	Being swept away; drowning	Never enter water above knee height; throw orange from bank if depth is unsafe; teacher checks water depth before allowing students to enter
Flash flooding	Sudden rise in water level; drowning	Check the weather forecast the night before and on the day; have an emergency evacuation plan to high ground; monitor sky conditions throughout; cancel if heavy rain is forecast upstream
Hypothermia (cold water and cold weather)	Dangerous drop in core body temperature	Wear waterproof waders or wellies; dress in warm layers; bring dry clothing in a bag; limit time in cold water; take a warm drink
Sun exposure (hot weather)	Sunburn; heatstroke	Apply sunscreen; wear a hat; bring water to stay hydrated; schedule measurements in the morning to avoid peak sun
Equipment injury	Cuts from sharp equipment; eye injury from ranging poles	Carry ranging poles vertically, not horizontally; handle measuring equipment carefully; wear gloves if handling sharp rocks
Getting lost in remote areas	Delayed return; exposure	Teacher carries a map and mobile phone; establish a meeting point; ensure all students have the teacher's contact number; do not walk alone