Camps & Overnights Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Carbon monoxide in enclosed spaces — Ban combustion devices in tents or enclosed shelters. Cook only in ventilated, designated areas. Educate everyone on symptoms (headache, nausea, confusion). Use battery CO alarms in indoor spaces, maintain airflow in mess tents, and enforce overnight checks that all stoves are cold and removed.
• Cold exposure and hypothermia — Brief on layering, hats, dry socks and changing wet kit quickly. Provide heated shelter access, hot meals and drinks, and set buddy checks for shivering, slurred speech or apathy. Keep spare sleeping bags and liners bagged, and establish a no-cotton rule for nightwear in damp or windy conditions.
• Waste and wildlife — Adopt clean-as-you-go. Bag food waste in sealed containers, store off ground, and remove nightly to secure bins. Keep tents zipped to deter insects/rodents, and ban food in sleeping areas. Inspect for wasp nests and nettles, and use lidded buckets for dish water to avoid attracting pests.
• Manual handling and lifting — Demonstrate safe lifting, team-carry heavy tents and catering crates, and use trolleys where possible. Avoid twisting, keep loads close, and pace arrivals to reduce rush. Adults manage gas bottle moves with gloves. Build in rest stops, rotate tasks, and check for uneven ground before setting down.
• Heat, hydration and sun exposure — Schedule shade breaks, hats and broad-spectrum sunscreen with reapplication timers. Provide potable water at all activity points and set a sip-buddy system. Limit exertion at peak heat, use breathable sleeping gear, and monitor urine colour charts at taps to prompt early action on dehydration.