Museum/Educational Visit Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Evacuation confusion in case of fire or incidents — Review the museum fire plan on arrival. Assign staff to specific exits. Practise call-and-response during drills. Use radios or mobiles for coordination. Confirm alarms are audible throughout galleries and assembly points accessible.
• Pushy crowds leading to jostling or anxiety — Visit during quieter times. Use pre-agreed safe zones, assign adults to high-traffic areas, and stagger class movement. Teach children calm walking and "group pause" cues to prevent panic.
• Exhibit-related electrical hazards — Confirm PAT testing records, use RCDs for temporary exhibits, and route cables away from public paths. Train staff to isolate circuits quickly. Do not allow unsupervised access to interactive areas with live components.
• Boarding and disembarking coaches or minibuses — Park in a designated loading bay away from traffic. Use high-vis staff to marshal pupils. Instruct children to board one at a time. Teachers stand at doors and do headcounts each time. Avoid reversing vehicles when pupils are nearby.
• Hazardous or toxic materials in exhibits — Liaise with curators to confirm all handling collections are safe. Keep any hazardous objects sealed. Only allow supervised handling of replicas; prohibit student access to behind-the-scenes storage. Log all collections risk assessments.