Classroom Pets Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Noise, odour and ventilation — Site enclosures away from HVAC intakes and whiteboards, ventilate rooms daily, spot-clean promptly, select low-odour substrates, and reduce exposure during strong odours or high dust by scheduling observation-only sessions until conditions improve.
• Species choice and legal compliance — Confirm the species is permitted and insured, choose captive-bred low-risk animals suited to classrooms, avoid wild-caught or regulated species, and document housing, handling limits and emergency contacts in a simple care plan signed off by leadership and a named vet/technician.
• Cleaning chemicals and aerosols — Select pet-safe disinfectants, apply only when animals are removed or shielded, ventilate the area, avoid sprays near pupils, clearly label bottles, and keep all chemicals locked away from children with a COSHH-style sheet available for reference.
• Zoonotic infections — Wash hands with soap after animal or enclosure contact, keep food and drink out of animal zones, exclude immunocompromised pupils from high-risk species tasks, quarantine newcomers, and consult a vet on species-specific risks such as salmonella in reptiles or ringworm in mammals.
• Feed and bedding storage hygiene — Store feed and bedding in sealed, labelled containers off the floor, rotate stock first-in/first-out, discard damp or odorous batches, clean spills promptly, separate storage from food-teaching areas, and inspect weekly for mould or rodent activity with a simple log.