Involving:

Workplace / Location

Nick, Nessa, Dan, Herbal

Van crew and members of
the public.

At an Event.

Date of
Assessment:
12th Feburary
2016

Review
Date:12th
June 2016

Risk Assessment For:

Risk Assessors Name:

Job title:

Nick XXXX & Dan Wheals

Medical Herbalist

DUTIES
/ TASK

HAZARDS
IDENTIFIED

PEOPLE AT
RISK

H V P G

Herbaculture Events involving Herbal Medicine

Prescribing, health advice, workshops, herb
walks, event set up, management and Van
related matters.

CONTROL MEASURES IN
PLACE

RISK
RATING
Risk
S L R Adeq
uate

Herbal Crew to check site by prior

visit or by talking with organisers.
RE: to identify any hazards or issues
and remove or highlight them.

PRE
Event

Event planing

ACTION: Send this risk

assessment with insurance,
qualifications,first aid, invoice
and contract to be prepared in
advance of workshop.
ACTION: confirm suitability of
site, van site (slope, ground
conditions) options for hot
water, fire, parking, camping,
access on and off site, numbers
of crew etc.

PRE Event

Site suitable for

Van

PRE Event

Marketing

Marketing information for organisers

including method statement, insurances,

PRE Event

Invoicing

System of payment. Ideally deposit paid

to cover petrol for paid events on
booking. Invoice template.

PRE Event

Volunteers/
Apprentices

Training sessions for Herbal Crew. Risk

Assessment protocol.

PRE Event

Products

Checklist to ask organisers. Also a

document saying what we need.

what we have on board, why? What

products we sell , why? how sold?

1 1 L

ACTION: Stock check and reorder.

PRE Event

Set up in place from arrival, choosing

site, awnings, cafe, pharmacy, to pack
down.

Infrastructure
Systems in place

ACTIONS: what needed to boil water,

gas - burners etc. Safety of these.

PRE Event

The history of providing first aid means

having the systems & certificates etc all
ready. Bowls, dressings, disposal of
waster etc on hand.

First Aid

ACTION: decision on if we offer First

Aid. Good to have in place for ourselves.
How it works signs or handouts
ready. Herbal Medicine, donations,
how the herbal van works, safety
sheet including name, allergies,
current medications etc. Ask on
contact sheet if read them. For
Workshops/ herb walks: Issues
relating to clothing, footwear, hand
wash, allergies, touching and tasting
wild plants, photography, site
facilities.
Insisting on future mailings and
email contacts needed as part of
business plan.
PRE Event

Paperwork

H P G

ACTION:Print workshop advice

list for those taking part. e.g.
May get smoky, messy and have
lots of fun. Suitable footwear
and clothing advised.
ACTION: Reception checked and
all paperwork ready. Signs
clean and all present. Ready to
collect all details and provide
paperwork to those using the
service. Client/ Prescription/
Patient sheets in locked area
inside the van.
ACTION: technology: iPad for
data collection? mobile card
payment system?

1 1 L

PRE Event

PRE Event

PRE Event

DUTIES
/ TASK

EVENT

EVENT

HAZARDS
IDENTIFIED

PEOPLE AT
RISK

CONTROL MEASURES IN
PLACE

RISK
RATING

Need of Shelter
W P G
and comfort

Rain, need for shade and sense of cosy

space. Ask organisers where to be based.
Use of the Van for workshops with a
distinct zone clearly marked if the van is
still open to public.

2 1 L

Extreme
weather: high
temperatures,
high winds, low
temperatures.

W P G

Check weather conditions before

engaging in daily tasks or activities.
Consider trees and falling brances as
well as shelter stablity. Workshop
groups/ Everyone to be advised to
3 1 L
wear sun cream/ hats and drink
plenty on hot days.
Suitable Jackets and footwear for
wet/ cold conditions.

W P G

Advise people to cover up, take

regular breaks and drink regularly.
Wear suncream, hats &
sunglasses/tinted safety glasses.
Avoid working outside during the
hottest part of the day. Advise
participants not to leave animals
unattended in vehicles.

EVENT
Sunburn.
Dehydration,
Heat
Exhaustion.
Heat Stroke.

2 1 L

W P G

Fire procedure in place when using

fire or Kelly Kettle. Prepare site,
water on hand to control fire and
possible burns. PPE - gloves needed.
Clear sign to mark fire assembly
point or agreed plan of action. Carry
phone in case of emergency. Create
a calm sense of fire as a relaxing
place.

2 2 L

W P G

Maintain first aid kit and

qualifications NEXT DUE 19th May
2018 for Dan Wheals. If at a Venue
check where their first aid kit is and
have address for ambulance handy.
Notify all staff of workshop location.
Carry a charged phone. Ask
participants about allergies, epi
pens, epilepsy and any conditions to
be aware of.

2 1 L

WILDLIF
Danger from
E
wildlife: Adders,
W P G
Ticks, wasps
HAZAR
etc.
DS

Make people aware of the specific

wildlife, how to visually identify
them and advise to avoid
approaching snakes. Advise wearing
long sleeves and trousers. Provide
advice, or where to get advice, on
tick removal / treatment. First aid kit
available and trained first aiders on
site.

1 2 L

Follow instructions of leaders as to

which plants are safe to touch,
smell, taste and pick.
Advise washing of hands after walk
if wildlife is handled.
First Aid kit to be carried and First
Aider with group.
Wash harvested produce if
appropriate.

2 2 L

HERB WALK - HERB SAFARI

specified times to start on sign with
likely duration time.
Choosing plants to talk about
W P G O
2 2 L
focusing on their medicinal qualities/
uses.
Touching, tasting, smelling, picking
plants where safe and appropriate.

EVENT

EVENTS

PLANT
HAZARDS

Activity 1

Activity 2

Fire.

Sudden illness.

Thorns, sharp
twigs,
poisonous
plants.

terrain,

W P G

W P G

1 1 L
HERBAL HEROES - CREATING
CARTOON CHARACTERS INSPIRED BY
PLANTS
Inspired by herb walk or choosing a plant
in area on their own, participants (any
age) encouraged to draw the plant. A few
superpowers like medicinal uses or plant
attributes (e.g flower colour, prolific

N/A

seeder) may help participants to

Activity 3

Hot water,
spillage

W P G

SECRET TEA TASTING

Participants taste a tea made by
Dan Wheals. Limited herbal teas to
commonly drunk varieties.
Participants can know what they are
drinking but the aim is to taste
without knowing in this activity.
Asked about allergies in initial
contact sheet. Using thermos
dispenser which can be refilled from
cafe at Brandon to reduce the need
for a fire to boil water. Using
disposable paper cups. HALF FILL &
DRINKING COOL WATER TO HAND.
NOT FOCUS OF EVENT,
PARTICIPANTS WILL KNOW WHAT
THE TEA IS OR HAVE PICKED IT
THEMSELVES.

2 1 L

Craft Activity/ Making Herbal

products
- Creams, Distillation etc

Activity 4

Heating
products.
Contamination,
Sharp
implements

W P G

Activity 5

Tools.

W P G

Activity 6

All
Activities

Managing large
W P G
groups

general safety

W P G

Seasonal activities. Use of

equipment (still) and tools (knifes)
2 2 M N/A
carefully monitored and kept in a
safe box when not in use. Handouts
useful with recipes. Distinct areas for
workshops and any heating done in
a safe way. Hygiene and methods to
ensure products not contaminated.
Gardening. INDUCT ALL ON USE OF
TOOLS AND KEEP IN ONE PLACE WHEN
NOT IN USE.
Workshop limits to numbers depending on
activity and venue.
Clarity of what is going on where.

Slips, trips, furniture, equipment.

FOCUS IN INDUCTION OF
PARTICIPANTS.

2 2 M N/A

2 1 L

1 1 L

Medical
Issues

mis informaiton

This is not a hospital. Advise given

by qualified medical herbalists or
those with knowledge of their fields
e.g. masseur.
Use product sheets for all pharmacy
sold items e.g. Pukka PDFs.

Medial
issues

notifyable
disseases.
Spread of
diseases.

Hygiene systmes in place at Heral

Van.

Other
Medical
Issues.

Stat
Doses

Pharmacy
sales

Eating,
Drinking,
Washing
UP,
Waste.
Guy
ropes,
stability
of
structure
s.
Suitabilit
y of
chairs

trip hazzards, lighting at night, those

finding low seats a problem.

All
Activities

food, drink,
W P G
Taking breaks.
TRAVELLING HERBAL
VANon hand
comfort
Having MEDICINE
food and drink
RISK ASSESSMENT
either preprepared or at venue.
Being aware of needs of people for
access, chairs if sitting on floor too
hard.
Access to toilets.
Ask what people need.

2 1 L

Burn out
Keeping check on each other. food,
water, etc. Help to set up , pack
down etc.

People at Risk Key: H= Herbal Van Crew.

V = Volunteer, Apprentices, Workshop leaders, tutors)
P = Participants, Clients, Pupils,
G = General Public (please specify)

Risk Rating: VH = Very High, H = High, M = Medium, L = Low

USE THE KEY BELOW: S (Severity) + L (Likelihood) = R (Risk Rating)

ANYTHING ABOVE 4 NEEDS TO GO IN METHOD STATEMENT
SEVERITY (S)
5

Death / disability

Major injury - broken bone, unconsciousness anything reportable under RIDDOR

Minor injury (Lost time 1 - 3 days) bruising, sprains, deep cuts

Injuries requiring first aid (Lost time < 1 day)

Trivial injury (No lost time)- bumps, cuts, abrasions.

LIKELIHOOD (L)
5

It is expected to happen in most circumstances

Will probably occur at some time, or in most circumstances

Fairly likely to occur at some time, or in some circumstances

It is unlikely to, but could, occur at some time

May only occur in exceptional circumstances

RISK RATING (R)

ACTION REQUIRED

16+

Unacceptable risk do not proceed

9 -15

Requires Immediate action to reduce risk and maintain at

an acceptable level

4-8

Precautions to be maintained and managed. Further

action to reduce risk to be taken if this can be done cost
effectively.

1-3

Precautions to be maintained and managed. Further

action unlikely to be appropriate.

Likelihood

10

15

20

25

12

16

20

12

15

10

Severity
Unacceptable Risk

High Risk

Medium Risk

Low Risk