School Bus Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Roadside breakdown and collisions — Move to a safe verge or lay-by, set triangles where lawful, keep pupils seated until directed, evacuate to a fenced verge if necessary, headcount and contact control and guardians, and await recovery with the bus secured.
• School loading zone traffic — Cone and sign dedicated bays, enforce one-way flow at low speed, separate pedestrian lanes, place staff at pinch points, and hold buses until the zone is clear, reviewing layouts after near-miss reports.
• Luggage, instruments and sports kit — Stow large items in racks or bays, keep aisles and exits clear, team-lift heavy loads, avoid overheads on moving buses, and secure rolling or sharp items in lidded containers before departure, unloading only once fully stopped.
• 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.
• Fueling, idling and engine bay access — Refuel only off-route with engines off, ban pupils from forecourts, keep spill kits and extinguishers available, prohibit idling near intakes or crowds, and lock engine bays so maintenance areas remain adult-only.