Fieldwork Skills » Risk Assessment and Safety

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The importance of risk assessment in geographical fieldwork
How to identify potential hazards in different fieldwork environments
Methods for evaluating and managing risks
Creating effective risk assessment forms
Essential safety procedures for fieldwork
Practical strategies to ensure personal and group safety

Introduction to Risk Assessment and Safety in Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an exciting and essential part of geography that takes you out of the classroom and into the real world. However, any time you're working in the field – whether it's a coastal area, urban environment, or river study – you need to think about staying safe. Risk assessment isn't just paperwork; it's about making sure everyone comes back from fieldwork happy, healthy and having learned something amazing!

Key Definitions:

Risk Assessment: The process of identifying potential hazards, evaluating the level of risk they pose and implementing measures to reduce those risks.
Hazard: Anything that could potentially cause harm (like steep cliffs, deep water, or busy roads).
Risk: The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm, combined with how serious that harm might be.
Control Measure: Actions taken to reduce the chance of harm occurring or to lessen its impact.

🛠 Why Risk Assessment Matters

Risk assessment isn't just about ticking boxes – it's about making sure everyone stays safe while doing fieldwork. Good risk assessment:

Helps you spot dangers before they cause problems
Makes you think about what could go wrong and how to prevent it
Ensures you're prepared for emergencies
Is required by schools and examination boards
Teaches you valuable life skills about staying safe

⚠ Common Fieldwork Hazards

Different environments have different risks:

Coastal: Tides, cliff falls, slippery rocks
Rivers: Deep/fast water, contamination, unstable banks
Urban: Traffic, getting lost, stranger danger
Rural: Isolation, farm machinery, livestock
Weather-related: Sunburn, hypothermia, storms
General: Trips and falls, allergic reactions

The Risk Assessment Process

Creating a risk assessment isn't complicated, but it needs to be thorough. Follow these steps to create an effective risk assessment for your fieldwork:

🔍 Step 1: Identify Hazards

Look for anything that could cause harm. Think about:

The environment you'll be in
Activities you'll be doing
Equipment you'll be using
Weather conditions
People factors (fitness, health conditions)

📈 Step 2: Evaluate Risks

For each hazard, consider:

How likely is it to cause harm?
How serious would that harm be?
Who might be affected?
Rate risks as low, medium or high

🛡 Step 3: Control Measures

Plan how to reduce each risk:

Can you avoid the hazard completely?
What safety equipment is needed?
What rules or procedures will help?
What training or information is needed?

Creating an Effective Risk Assessment Form

A good risk assessment form needs to be clear, comprehensive and practical. Your form should include:

Location details: Where the fieldwork will take place
Date and time: When the fieldwork will happen
Group details: Number of students, staff ratios
Activity description: What you'll be doing
Hazard identification: What could cause harm
Risk evaluation: How serious each risk is
Control measures: How you'll reduce each risk
Emergency procedures: What to do if something goes wrong
Contact information: Who to call in an emergency

Remember to review your risk assessment before the fieldwork and update it if conditions change (like weather forecasts).

Case Study Focus: River Fieldwork Risk Assessment

A group of GCSE students planned to measure discharge rates at the River Exe in Devon. Their risk assessment identified several key hazards:

Hazard: Deep/fast flowing water
Risk level: High
Control measures: Work in pairs, stay 1m from edge, wear wellington boots, no entry into water above knee height, use extension poles for measurements in deeper sections
Hazard: Slippery river banks
Risk level: Medium
Control measures: Wear appropriate footwear, identify safe access points, staff to check stability of banks before students approach
Hazard: Water-borne diseases
Risk level: Medium
Control measures: Cover cuts with waterproof plasters, wear gloves when handling water, wash hands before eating, carry hand sanitiser

The group also prepared emergency procedures including first aid kit locations, nearest hospital details and mobile phone coverage check.

Essential Safety Procedures for Fieldwork

Beyond the formal risk assessment, there are practical safety procedures that should become second nature during fieldwork:

👥 Group Management

Staying safe as a group is crucial:

Use a buddy system – always work in pairs
Establish clear meeting points and times
Take regular head counts
Ensure everyone knows the emergency plan
Maintain appropriate student-to-staff ratios
Establish clear boundaries for where students can go

📱 Communication

Good communication keeps everyone safe:

Share mobile numbers among group leaders
Check mobile reception in advance
Have a backup communication plan
Use whistles or other signals in noisy environments
Establish clear hand signals for river or coastal work
Make sure everyone knows who to contact in an emergency

Personal Preparation for Safe Fieldwork

Being personally prepared is just as important as formal risk assessments. Make sure you:

Dress appropriately: Weather-suitable clothing, layers, sturdy footwear
Pack essentials: Water, food, sun protection, personal medication
Know your limits: Be honest about your physical capabilities
Understand procedures: Know what to do in an emergency
Stay alert: Be aware of your surroundings and changing conditions
Follow instructions: Listen to teachers and fieldwork leaders

🌞 Weather Considerations

Weather can dramatically affect fieldwork safety:

Check forecasts before departing
Have contingency plans for bad weather
Know signs of heat exhaustion and hypothermia
Consider how weather affects your specific environment (e.g., flash floods in rivers)

🩹 First Aid Awareness

Basic first aid knowledge is invaluable:

Know who the first aiders are
Know where first aid kits are located
Understand basic treatment for common injuries
Report all accidents, even minor ones

📦 Equipment Safety

Using equipment safely is essential:

Get proper training before using specialist equipment
Carry equipment safely when moving
Check equipment before use
Clean and store equipment properly after use

Evaluating Your Risk Assessment

After completing your fieldwork, it's valuable to reflect on how effective your risk assessment was:

Did you identify all the hazards you encountered?
Were your control measures effective?
Did any unexpected situations arise?
What would you do differently next time?
How could your risk assessment be improved?

This evaluation process is an important part of your fieldwork write-up and shows examiners that you understand the importance of risk assessment as an ongoing process.

Remember!

Risk assessment isn't about stopping you from doing exciting fieldwork – it's about making sure you can do it safely. A good risk assessment should enable fieldwork, not prevent it. By thinking ahead and being prepared, you can have amazing fieldwork experiences while keeping yourself and others safe.

In your exam, you might be asked to identify hazards in a particular fieldwork scenario or suggest appropriate safety measures. Being able to think critically about risk in different environments is an important geographical skill.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!