Public Transport Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Forecourt and bus-lane traffic — Assemble well back from kerb edges, cross only at marked points on the leader’s signal, keep pupils out of cycle lanes and taxi ranks, approach buses only once fully stopped, and avoid standing in vehicle blind spots at termini and depots.
• Weather exposure at stops — Check forecasts, provide layers, waterproofs and hats, queue under cover where possible, shorten waits on exposed platforms, and move to indoor concourses during high winds, electrical storms or intense heat until conditions improve.
• Accessibility and mobility needs — Prepare individual plans, book assistance in advance, board at accessible doors with ramps, keep lifts clear for those who need them, and adjust pace and distances so pupils using wheelchairs or aids complete the same journey with dignity.
• Payment and ticketing problems — Load tickets and cards in advance, carry a float and backup payment methods, allocate a staff member to resolve validator issues, keep the group beyond the gates until all members have passed, and request a manual override if systems fail.
• Service disruption and cancellations — Check live status before departure and at each interchange, build generous buffers, carry means to pay across operators, nominate a single decision-maker to reroute or hold, and notify families with revised ETAs whenever delays, strikes or closures alter the plan.