RA No.

TPT-OL-009-Plaster of Paris
RISK ASSESSMENT Page 1 of 7

Assessment Review Date

15/10/19 October 2021
Date (To be within 24 Months)

Work Area Craft activities using plaster of Paris

Reason for Assessment (Tick appropriate boxes)

Initial Assessment x Periodic Review Change of Equipment
Change of Work Process Change of Personnel Abnormal Activity
Relocation After an Accident / Incident Other
Brief Description of Assessment:
Plaster of Paris used to make casts of animal footprints in the parks or used as part of other craft activities.

Assessor(s):
Sarah Griffiths – Oudoor Learning and Interpretation Manager

Hazard = Something with the potential to cause harm.

Risk = The likelihood of a hazard causing harm & its associated severity.

‘Concentrate on the significant, ignore the trivial’

Part 1 – Hazard Identification

1. General Description of the Work Area Associated Hazards
Can take place in any parks within Milton Keynes, all with public access Trees/branches affected by
Habitats include long grass, bushes, woodland, wetland and meadow areas. weather conditions, e.g. high
winds, lightning strikes.

Stings/scratches from plants

Slips/trips/falls.

Interaction/aggressive behaviour
from other members of the
public including, horse riders,
dog walkers.

2. Plant, Equipment and Vehicles in or adjacent to the work area Associated Hazards

Plaster of Paris dry powder mixed using water Irritation of skin/eyes/respiratory

system from mis-use of powder

Burns from mixed powder

TPT-1014 Rev 1 The Parks Trust

 RA No. TPT-OL-009-Plaster of Paris
RISK ASSESSMENT Page 2 of 7

3. METHOD STATEMENT Associated Hazards

Description of the task / process to be carried out (step-by-step tasks).

This section should describe exactly how the work will be done and by
whom
TPT staff to mix and use the plaster of Paris only. Irritation of
skin/eyes/respiratory system
Mixture poured onto area to be ‘cast’ by TPT staff. from mis-use of powder

Burns from mixed powder

COSHH safety sheet to be taken out with the powder, even if it is
decanted into a smaller container.

Container to have lid fastened when not in use.

Once dry and hardened, participants able to take the cast away with
them.

Assessors Signature(s)

ALL Those involved in making the Risk Assessment to sign

TPT-1014 Rev 1 The Parks Trust

 RA No. TPT-OL-009-Plaster of Paris
RISK ASSESSMENT Page 3 of 7

Part 2 - Detailed Assessment of Risks

Hazard. Persons likely to Existing Control Measures. Risk Rating. Action required to reduce / control risk. Corrective Residual
Potential harm and how caused be affected (Describe all existing measures taken to SxL (Further improvements that could be made to the Action Risk Rating
(List all hazards identified in part 1) reduce risk) (See Table 1) control measures. To be agreed with relevant Number (After further
[eg 3 x 1 = 3 manager & H&S Advisor) (If further actions)
Low] control
measures
required)
Handling plaster may irritate the Participants All briefed beforehand of the hazards. 2x1=2
respiratory system by inhaling the dust TPT staff & Mixing carried out in the open so
or cause irritation to eyes and skin volunteers good ventilation.
Small amounts mixed only.
Powder kept in air tight containers.
Avoid windy & wet conditions.
Ensure group is well supervised.
COSHH Assessment and copy of
Safety data sheet available.
Rangers only to mix the powder
Handling mixed plaster may cause Participants All briefed beforehand of the hazards. 3x1=3
burns to skin when material hardens TPT staff & Only ranger to use once wet.
after mixing with water volunteers Wear gloves when mixing.
COSHH Assessment and copy of
Safety data sheet available.
Adverse weather conditions (Extremes Participants Weather forecast monitored. 1x3=3 If session in woods, or trees are
of temperature, winds exceeding 25 TPT staff & Participants advised to dress overhanging area, beafort scale of 7 or
mph, lightning strikes) volunteers appropriately for the weather and site over would usually require
being visited. Water and hats advised cancellation/change of site/acitivty as
in hot weather. Staff to use common appropriate. Staff to take anonometer with
sense to judge weather, taking into them on windy days to check local wind
account weather warnings and speed.
beafort scale for winds. Session
curtailed or cancelled in very heavy
rain, strong winds or very high
temperatures.
Slips, trips and falls from the uneven Participants Everyone always reminded to wear 1x3=3
ground. TPT staff & practical clothing and footwear.
volunteers

TPT-1014 Rev 1
 RA No. TPT-OL-009-Plaster of Paris
RISK ASSESSMENT Page 4 of 7

Hazard. Persons likely to Existing Control Measures. Risk Rating. Action required to reduce / control risk. Corrective Residual
Potential harm and how caused be affected (Describe all existing measures taken to SxL (Further improvements that could be made to the Action Risk Rating
(List all hazards identified in part 1) reduce risk) (See Table 1) control measures. To be agreed with relevant Number (After further
[eg 3 x 1 = 3 manager & H&S Advisor) (If further actions)
Low] control
measures
required)
Contact with other parks users Participants Participants reminded that when in 1x2=2
including dog walkers, horse riders TPT staff & public parks they are not the only park
volunteers users and to be respectful to
members of the public.
Report any antisocial/dangerous
behavior of other park users to the
police.
Behaviour of attendees Participants. TPT Leader of attending group informed 2x2=4
Staff and that behaviour is their responsibility
Volunteers on site at time of booking. This to be
re-iterated to the leader at the during
session as appropriate. Clear rules
and expectations given to the group
at start of session. PT staff to
intervene in times of
emergency/potential danger
Illness/ medical problems of attendees Participants Leader of attending 2x2=4
(for sessions where there is a group group/Parent/Accompanying Adult
leader/Parents/Guardian Present) informed that medical aid is their
responsibility on site at time of
booking. PT staff to intervene in times
of emergency/potential danger
Illness/ medical problems of attendees Participants Medical data to be taken at point of 2x2=4
(for sessions where PT staff is loci booking and parents/guardians’
parentis) e.g. JPR, Youth Rangers and responsibility for letting PT staff of
Youth Explorers changes.
Self-medication is stated as process
on booking form
PT staff to intervene in times of
emergency/potential danger

Part 2 - Detailed Assessment of Risks

Table 1. Risk Rating
Risk rating = Severity x Likelihood

TPT-1014 Rev 1
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RISK ASSESSMENT Page 5 of 7

Severity (S)
[Severity] & [Extent]
Slightly Harmful Harmful Extremely Harmful
Risk Assessment [Minor injury / illness, first aid [Serious injury / illness, hospitalisation, [Fatality, loss of limb, permanent
treatment, minor equipment equipment damage] disability, equipment destroyed]
damage] [Several persons affected]
[Affecting only one person] (2)
(1) (3)

Very Unlikely (1)

Low Low Low
[Minimal interaction]
[Possibility of Avoidance]

(1) (2) (3)

[Occurrence of Hazard]

[Remote possibility]
[Exposure to Hazard]
Likelihood (L)

[Easily avoidable]
Unlikely (2)
Low
Medium Medium
[Much interaction] (2)
[More likely] (4) (6)
[Some possibility to avoid]
Likely (3)
Low
Medium High
[Intensive interaction] (3)
[Quite likely] (6) (9)
[Little possibility of avoidance]

1–3 Tolerable Risk Monitor regularly to ensure that the risk does not grow.
4–6 Moderate Risk Potentially serious. Long term issues anticipated. Plan ahead.
9 High Risk – Intolerable ACT NOW.

TPT-1014 Rev 1
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RISK ASSESSMENT Page 6 of 7

Part 3 - Review
Category No: 1 Regular (24 monthly) review 2 Result of accident 3 Result of near miss 4 Change of process 5 Change of location 6 Personnel change

Date: Category Assessors/s Comments Action Required Date Closed

No
1 Nicky Saunders Updated from old version form and content reviewed none 21/11/18
21/11/18
15/10/19 1 Sarah Griffiths Updated Updated 15/10/19

TPT-1014 Rev 1
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RISK ASSESSMENT Page 7 of 7

Part 4 - Briefing Sheet

Use this sheet to record persons whom have been briefed on the contents of this risk assessment.

RISK ASSESSMENT BRIEFING GIVEN BY:

DATE NAME SIGNATURE

TPT-1014 Rev 1