School Bus Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Passenger behaviour and noise — State a clear code of conduct, keep aisles and driver’s line of sight clear, intervene early on shouting or seat-hopping, re-seat persistently disruptive pupils, and record incidents for restorative follow-up with families.
• 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.
• 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.
• Communication and tracking failure — Equip drivers with hands-free radio/phone for stops only, maintain a control room contact, carry paper registers and route cards, and default to the nearest safe stop and muster if comms fail, resuming only when contact is re-established.
• Driver lone working at early/late runs — Provide lit depots, key-in/key-out checks, panic alarms and no-cash policies, avoid solo high-risk tasks, and require radio contact at yard entries and remote termini so early starts and late returns remain practicable.