School Bus Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Unauthorized riders or custody disputes — Board only listed pupils, verify collectors at hub stops, refuse ad-hoc boarders, and follow a clear escalation to control and safeguarding when disputes arise, holding the bus safely until instructions are received.
• Low light and visibility — Schedule daylight routes where possible, use hazard lights and reflective stop signage, require high-vis for escorts at rural stops, and delay or relocate poorly lit stops until lighting is improved or a safer alternative is agreed.
• 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.
• Boarding and alighting at stops — Stop close to the kerb on level ground, open doors only when fully braked, deploy steps/ramps as needed, board from front to back, dismiss front to rear, and keep the bus stationary until the roadway and mirrors are confirmed clear.
• Adverse weather and road conditions — Check forecasts and road reports, reduce speeds, widen following distances, reroute from flooded/icy sections, fit chains or winter tyres where used, and cancel non-essential legs when traction or visibility falls below safe limits.