Physical Education Class (PE) Risk Assessment

Typical hazards & measures

• Medical conditions and allergies — Collect and share up-to-date medical details; ensure inhalers, EpiPens and glucose are immediately accessible; brief staff on care plans; adapt tasks and environmental exposure; check for insect nests or allergens on fields; and document responses after any medication use or incident.
• Behaviour and horseplay — Set clear conduct rules and consequences; enforce no-contact or controlled-contact expectations as appropriate; remove unsafe participants from play to reset; use engaging, competitive but fair structures; and build reflection routines that reward safe decision-making and teamwork.
• Inadequate safety briefing and rules of play — Open each lesson with concise safety points, rules and signals; demonstrate key skills; check understanding with quick questions; highlight stop words; agree boundaries and sanctions; and revisit points before higher-risk drills, adapting briefings for age and ability.
• Inadequate emergency response and first aid — Ensure a qualified first aider, stocked kits and ice are on hand; carry a charged phone or radio; display grid reference or what3words; brief evacuation routes; practise summon-and-stay protocols; record incidents and near misses; and review controls after each significant event.
• Cold and inclement weather exposure — Issue go/no-go thresholds for wind chill and rain; require layers, gloves and waterproofs; shorten exposure, build frequent warm-up breaks, and move to sheltered or indoor spaces if pupils are shivering or soaked. Dry wet floors and provide space to change into dry clothing promptly.