Sports Day Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Manual handling during setup and packdown — Use trolleys for hurdles, mats and gazebos; lift as teams with agreed commands and neutral spine. Keep routes clear and avoid carrying in crowds. Store heavy items at waist height and pause work in high winds or rain. Stop any lift that feels unstable and reassess method.
• Toilets, hygiene and sanitation — Provide adequate toilets and hand-washing stations near spectator and athlete zones. Set stewarded queues, restock soap and paper hourly, and clean high-touch points. Provide period supplies and private changing space. Isolate any biohazard promptly for deep clean.
• Missing child or separation — Operate entry wristbands or class lanyards, agreed rendezvous points, and frequent headcounts at transitions. Brief pupils to approach stewards if separated. On activation, lock down exits, broadcast discreetly on radios, and deploy a sweep team with a logged search grid.
• Finish line and podium crowding — Create barriered finish chutes and a separate medals area with stewarded one-way flow. Post timekeepers and marshals to move participants through promptly, keep spectators back, and prevent re-entry. Provide seating for faintness and space for medical access near the line.
• Electrical and PA equipment outdoors — Use PAT-tested kit, RCD-protected power and weather-rated leads. Route cables via overhead or covered mats to prevent trips; keep sockets off the ground and away from water points. Assign a competent person to control volume and power down rapidly during rain or faults.