Walking Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Uneven surfaces and kerbs — Reduce pace on cobbles, gravel, mud and raised slabs, step down kerbs squarely, avoid cluttered pavements, and reposition to the inside edge on narrow sections while an adult scouts hazards ahead and signals any short detour or single-file passage.
• Air quality and pollution — Review the day's air-quality index, shorten or reschedule during poor episodes, choose greener backstreets over main roads, increase spacing around idling vehicles, and prioritise sensitive pupils with alternative indoor tasks when pollution peaks.
• Low light and visibility — Prefer daylight; if dusk is possible, increase adult spacing to cover sightlines, add high-visibility for leaders, carry torches for decision points, avoid unlit cut-throughs, and postpone when lux levels are too low for safe group control or hazard detection.
• Hydration — Require each pupil to start with a filled bottle, schedule defined water stops away from kerbs and traffic, moderate pace on exposed sections, provide shaded pauses, monitor for headache, dizziness or cramps, carry spare water for refills, and note any welfare checks in the trip log.
• Hazardous plants and irritant sap — Pre-identify brambles, nettles and sap-irritant species on the recce, choose paths that bypass dense growth, use long sleeves where brushing is likely, and wash exposed skin promptly if contact occurs, noting the location for future route changes.