School programme Risk Assessment 2024-25
We ask school groups to complete their own risk assessment when visiting Orleans House Gallery. Below is a list of sixteen hazards to consider when on-site at Orleans House Gallery. Not all of these will be relevant depending on the workshop you are having, the venue of your workshop and the exhibition that you visit (which will vary from group to group). Please contact the Orleans House Gallery team if you would like to discuss anything further.
Hazard 1: The size of the site and the need to move between separate rooms to access the toilets.
Risk: Getting lost
Individuals Affected: Participants (children)
Control measures in place: Children to be supervised across the site by their school and not to be left unaccompanied. Teaching staff are responsible for managing the children around the site. Orleans House Gallery staff are familiar with lost child procedure.
Hazard 2: The size of the site and the need to move between separate rooms to access the toilets
Risk: Abduction
Individuals Affected: Participants (children)
Control measures in place: Children to be accompanied by an adult at all times and supervised across the site by their school staff. The school is responsible for overseeing DBS checks with their staff/parents. Facilitators will be familiar with safeguarding policy.
Orleans House Gallery staff are trained in Lost Child Procedure which includes abduction.
Hazard 3: Art materials
Risk: Injury caused by incorrect use
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: Only appropriate materials will be available and instructions for use provided. Children’s scissors are to be used and if the printing-press or any sharp objects used, then these materials will be supervised, and participants supported to use.
Risks for the press are included below.
First aider on duty
Hazard 4: Uneven surface in the Stables Gallery
Risk: Injury caused by slipping or tripping
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: No running allowed in the gallery. Good house-keeping, no trailing wires etc… First aider on duty.
Hazard 5: Fittings in Coach House (windows when open and the sliding doors).
Risk: Injury (head) or digit caught in door
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: The windows will be supervised if open and participants encouraged to use tables and the sliding doors to be set so they do not need to be moved during the session. First aider on duty.
Hazard 6: Artwork
Risk: Injury caused by artwork falling on visitor or causing a visitor to trip.
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: If the group visit the Gallery spaces, then any dangerous artworks will be roped off and the space supervised by a Front of House volunteer. Before a new exhibition opens, gallery staff will assess whether it is safe for the activity to take place in the gallery. Framed works will be secured using security fixings.
Each temporary exhibition has its own corresponding risk assessment.
First aider on duty.
Hazard 7: First Aid Emergency
Risk: Injury, loss of life
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: Ensure there is an adequate number of trained staff on site at any time.
Defibrillator on site.
First Aid boxes regularly updated.
First aid incident report logged in the event of an emergency.
First aider on site.
- If head injury is sustained, contact the emergency service depending on severity and ensure at least one member of gallery staff as well as at least one school staff member remain with the participant
- Instruct facilitators to inform a member of staff and direct other children away from the incident in case of an emergency
- If possible, ensure one member of staff remains with the rest of the group to guide further activity while incident is resolved
Hazard 8: Stools/table legs falling through the grates in the floor of the Stables Gallery
Risk: Injury, fall
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: Most school sessions are not in the Stables Gallery, and you will be informed if your session is. Tables are to be placed over holes so that they are hidden. This area is only to the right of the entrance and can be avoided if possible. The Stables Gallery is not always used for sessions.
First aider on site.
Hazard 9: Outside hazards: road, nettles, steps, dogs
Risk: Sting, injury, loss of life
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: Children instructed on behaviour before the walk. Staff alert to surroundings. Although the road is quiet, staff and children must be vigilant – they should walk along the side of the road, not through it and check for cars before crossing. No petting of dogs. Woodland site is regularly monitored by the Parks team.
Notes for teachers:
- At the end of the woods is a gate that leads onto a road: do take caution when exiting the woods that there is no oncoming traffic.
- It is not a requirement of the site (or neighbouring sites) for dogs to be on leads.
- No running by the back steps (in the central courtyard) due to risk of running into the handrail
First aider on duty
Hazard 10: Safeguarding Concern
Risk: A child/vulnerable person being unsafe
Individuals Affected: Participant (children)
Control measures in place: Orleans House Gallery has a safeguarding procedure which all staff are familiar with. Any concerns to be reported to the Duty Manager and Safeguarding lead.
DBS status on staff involved to be confirmed prior to session. Any non-DBS checked staff and volunteers not to be alone with participants.
Hazard 11: Stairs and access around main gallery space
Risk: Trip/fall
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: Children to hold handrails, to walk individually and to use the accessible lift if unable to use the stairs. These will need to be wiped down afterwards.
- Flag to teachers that there is no running at any time around the site, especially around the steps towards the back entrance of the gallery due to risk of running into the handrail.
Good housekeeping, no trailing leads.
First aider on site.
Hazard 12: Coach House Door
Risk: Injury to arm or fingers
Individuals Affected: All
Control measures in place: The Coach House door doesn’t always work when on automatic. The door doesn’t always respond when someone is in front of the door. To prevent this risk, we will:
- Not put the door on automatic.
- Leave on hold open when possible.
- If it is too cold and the door is closed manually, then facilitators are to monitor and inform staff to be careful when students are coming in and out of the space.
Printing Press Risk Assessment – this is only relevant if you are doing a print making workshop. The instructions will be printed and stored with the press for any adults supporting the session to refer to.
Hazard 13: Rollers
Risk: Injury to fingers
Individuals Affected: Anyone using the press.
Control measures in place: The press has an ‘instructions for use’ sheet which should be followed by users. There are clear indications where not to put hands. Those leading the activity should orally explain the risks. Any participant using the press should only handle the press, when in action, with the handle and the pressure screws on top.
The press should only be used with suitable ages.
There are a number of first aid kits onsite, including one where the press is housed. These are regularly checked and restocked
Hazard 14: The moving plate of the press.
Risk: Injury to fingers
Individuals Affected: Anyone using the press.
Control measures in place: Users should follow the instruction sheet. Those leading the activity should orally explain the risks. Anyone assisting the person printing with holding the press still should only do so from the pressure screws on the top of the press and should not hold the press around the base as the plate moves with the handle and can squash fingers. This is clearly explained in the ‘instructions for use’ sheet.
The press should only be used with suitable ages.
There are a number of first aid kits onsite, including one where the press is housed. These are regularly checked and restocked
Hazard 15: Misuse of the press.
Risk: Injury caused by misuse and further potential for injury by damaging the press not making it unsafe.
Individuals Affected: Anyone using the press.
Control measures in place: The press should be checked and tested by the facilitator before use by attendees. The handle of the press is stored backwards and must be unscrewed and reattached to use. The pressure screws turn to make the press tighter or slacker. This effect can also be created by adding newsprint paper to the bed. Follow the ‘instructions for use’ sheet.
Hazard 16: The weight of the press.
Risk: Crushing injury.
Individuals Affected: Anyone using the press.
Control measures in place: Ensure the press is firmly on the table before printing. The press should be held in place by a second person whilst someone prints. It must be held in place by the pressure screws at the top to prevent it sliding off the table.
The press is stored in a safe and stable location.