School Bus Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Child left on vehicle after route — Require a front-to-back sweep at every end-point, verify with a tamper-evident child-check tag at the rear exit, reconcile the manifest with school attendance, and escalate any mismatch to control before securing the bus or releasing the driver.
• Roadside waiting and kerbside behaviour — Mark safe waiting points set back from the kerb, require single-file approaches, ban running and ball play, brief “let the bus stop first,” and appoint stop monitors so groups remain controlled until the door is opened.
• Hygiene and respiratory illness control — Ventilate between runs, clean high-touch points daily, separate visibly unwell pupils near the front for early handover, and promote hand hygiene on boarding and after coughing or sneezing without restricting normal ridership.
• Emergency evacuation preparedness — Conduct termly bus evacuation drills, brief front/rear exit use, assign buddies for younger pupils, keep aisles clear, and require drivers and escorts to rehearse roadside muster and headcount procedures before the first term run.
• Vehicle maintenance and inspections — Maintain buses to manufacturer schedules, complete daily defect logs, tag and ground any unsafe vehicle, keep tyres, lights and wipers within spec, and verify emergency equipment and seat mechanisms before the morning run.