Music Lessons Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Manual handling of large or heavy instruments — Move pianos, timpani and amps with trolleys and team lifts on pre-cleared routes. Prohibit solo moves for bulky items, chock wheels before playing, and pre-stage heavy kit so students never reposition it during class transitions.
• Storage room congestion and falling cases — Rack heavy cases low, keep aisles clear, and timetable staggered store access with a one-in/one-out rule. Prohibit climbing shelves, label racks by instrument family, and assign a monitor to return cases correctly after each changeover.
• Chemical storage and cleaning products — Lock cleaning agents and solvents away from students, label clearly, and consult product safety information before use. Avoid atomising disinfectants in occupied rooms and record any exposure incidents for review and control changes.
• Repetitive strain and poor posture — Build warm-ups and micro-breaks into schemes, set stool/stand/strap heights for neutral wrists and shoulders, and rotate tasks to vary load. Correct technique early, encourage self-reporting of pain, and signpost medical review where needed.
• Piano lids, fallboards and bench stability — Keep grand lids on short stick unless closely supervised, secure fallboards closed when not in use, and check bench bolts and castors regularly. Control crowding at the keyboard and seat one player at a time during demonstrations.