City of Edinburgh Council, Sciennes Primary School Playground – Actions Taken in Response to D Yearley (RoSPA) Health &Safety Risk Assessment Item 1
Activity/ Hazard Falls from Timber Sleeper Wall
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3
Collision with Boulders
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5
6
Sand blowing in the wind
Recommendation
Action Taken
Action Owner
Target Date 26 February 2016
Status 6 April 16 Completed 19 February 2016
ONGOING
ONGOING
Extend the impact area to a minimum of 1.5 metres from the wall at all points to reduce the likelihood of falling onto the timber edge.
The timber wall has been adjusted and the impact area extended to 1.5m from the wall at all points to reduce the likelihood of falling onto the timber edge.
Supervisors should monitor the children’s behaviour and consider intervention when boisterous activity is combined with high numbers of users. The edges of all boulders and rocks on site should be rounded off so that the energy of any possible impact is spread over a wider part of the body.
Dynamic risk assessment is carried out during Playground Supervision.
Playground Supervisors
All accessible boulders/rock edges are now rounded off and comply with EN 1176.
BM
19 February 2016
Completed 19 Feb 16
A physical barrier/boundary can be created between the macadam area and the boulders, to slow children down naturally, but care must be taken to ensure such a barrier/boundary does not induce tripping into the boulders.
The recommendation to install a physical barrier/boundary has been fully considered with David Yearley (Independent Consultant) and a decision has been made not to install a barrier/boundary since it would introduce a further hazard and increase the risk of injury.
HT
19 February 2016
Completed 19 February 2016
Monitor the sand blowing in windy conditions and consider keeping the children indoors when the wind is particularly troublesome.
Dynamic risk assessment is carried out during Playground Supervision. Children will be brought indoors if the wind is particularly troublesome.
Duty SMT officer
ONGOING
ONGOING
Sweep sand from the macadam surface as required to ensure it does not become slippery
Dynamic risk assessment is carried out during Playground Supervision and sand swept as necessary
SSO
ONGOING
ONGOING
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BM
City of Edinburgh Council, Sciennes Primary School Playground – Actions Taken in Response to D Yearley (RoSPA) Health &Safety Risk Assessment Item 7
Activity/ Hazard
Recommendation
Action Taken
Falls from Tunnel Mound Rocks onto Rocks below
Remove the one rock at the base of the other climbing rocks to ensure that falling children are more likely to land in the gravel pit. (See EN 1176 compliance in report) Round off the rocks at the base of the mound, or remove them completely.
The rock identified as being in the falling / impact area has been removed and the unit is now compliant with EN 1176.
Monitor to ensure the gravel remains topped up to acceptable levels and that no hard objects have been placed into the gravel.
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9
Falls from Tyre Climbing Walls
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11
12
13
Falls from Vertical Poles and Little Tikes Unit
The condition of the gravel should be monitored periodically during out of school hours opening to ensure it remains suitably topped up and free of hard objects. Supervisors should monitor the capabilities of children climbing to the top of the vertical poles. This is already low risk, and residual risk with supervision is low The Little Tikes unit should be removed or relocated away from the fixed play equipment so that encouragement to climb is removed. During out of school hours use the loose parts and Little Tikes unit should be removed from site.
Action Owner BM
Target Date 19 February 2016
Status 6 April 16 Completed 19 February 2016
All accessible boulders/rock edges are now rounded off and comply with EN 1176.
BM
19 February 2016
Dynamic risk assessment is carried out during Playground Supervision and hard objects removed. The gravel is topped up as required from the store of gravel on site. The condition of gravel is monitored periodically by SSO during out of school hours and items removed or gravel topped up as required .
Supervisors
ONGOING
Completed 19 February 2016 ONGOING
SSO
ONGOING
ONGOING
Dynamic risk assessment is carried out during Playground Supervision.
Playground Supervisors
ONGOING
ONGOING
Completed
Playground Supervisors
26 February 2016
SSO
ONGOING
ONGOING
The Little Tikes unit has been relocated away from vertical poles.
The Little Tikes unit and loose parts are removed to storage when grounds are open out of hours. Page 2 of 7
SSO/BM
City of Edinburgh Council, Sciennes Primary School Playground – Actions Taken in Response to D Yearley (RoSPA) Health &Safety Risk Assessment Item
Activity/ Hazard
14
Collision with Stone Slabs of Amphitheatre
15
Falls from Timber Tower Structure Tree and Guardrails Falls from Timber Logs in the Nature Strip
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17 18
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20
Damaged Fence to Nature Strip Slipping in Icy Conditions
Recommendation
Action Taken
Action Owner BM
Target Date 19 February 2016
Status 6 April 16 Completed 19 Feb 2016
The edges of all stone slabs should be rounded off so that the energy of any possible impact is spread over a wider part of the body. Modify the structure to close off the access to the tree, in accordance with existing designs.
The edges of the stone slabs of the amphitheatre are now rounded off and comply with EN 1176. Bespoke tree guards have been installed to close off access to the tree.
BM
25 January 2016
Completed 1 Feb
Ensure the logs are kept at least 1.5 metres from the fence to prevent falls onto it.
The recommendation to move logs 1.5m from the fence has been fully considered with David Yearley (Independent Consultant) and a decision has been made not to move the logs as it is already a tolerable low risk.
BM
Easter Break
Completed
The fence should be repaired.
The fence has been repaired.
BM
27 January 2016
Ensure the dynamic risk assessment is proceduralised so that it is undertaken every day. Take action to implement the findings every time. Ensure that any ice is removed from around and on the boulders and rocks.
Procedural recording of daily inspection and dynamic risk assessment has been put in place with actions recorded.
BM/SSO
Completed 27 Jan 16 Completed
Dynamic risk assessment of icy slip hazards is undertaken daily during cold weather. Any ice around and on boulders is gritted/salted. Children are kept indoors when it is not possible to provide effective gritting/salting on the playground. The playground is closed out of hours when freezing weather is forecast.
SSO
ONGOING
ONGOING
HT/SSO
ONGOING
ONGOING
Consider keeping the playground out of bounds when it is not possible to provide effective gritting/salting, including during out of school hours periods.
Page 3 of 7
City of Edinburgh Council, Sciennes Primary School Playground – Actions Taken in Response to D Yearley (RoSPA) Health &Safety Risk Assessment Item
Activity/ Hazard
21
22
23
Defective Playground Equipment or Surfacing
Recommendation Consideration should be given to improving the drainage from the macadam side of the playground to reduce the likelihood of ice. Ensure an effective inspection system in accordance with EN 1176-7:2008, including routine visual inspections, operational inspections and annual main inspections. The inspections should continue during out of school hours periods, such as holidays.
Action Taken Work has been carried out to improve drainage from the macadam side of the playground. An effective inspection regime has been put in place with: Routine inspections carried out by the BM, SSO and PSAs Quarterly operational inspection by RoSPA Annual Outdoor Inspection RPII level 3 by RoSPA Out of hours inspections
Action Owner BM
Staff
Target Date Summer 2016
Status 6 April 16 Completed 4 April 16
Daily
Regime instigated
Quarterly
HT HT
Annually
SSO
Holidays 17 March
Completed
Ensure staff conducting inspections are aware of possible defects, by consultation with experts and/or the manufacturer and undergo training as necessary.
A bespoke RoSPA training course for schools on playground inspection and risk assessment has taken place for Head Teachers and Business Managers, with a practical session at Sciennes PS. This was attended by the Business Manager from Sciennes PS.
M Westwood
24
Make good any repairs within reasonable timescales.
BM/SSO
ONGOING
ONGOING
25
Encourage users to report faults.
Ongoing inspections and dynamic risk assessment identify any repairs required and suitable steps are taken to implement repairs. Information is given to pupils at assemblies and a Playground Handy Hints sheet was produced by the Pupil Council. A brief on Playground Safety at Sciennes has been distributed to all staff.
HT
ONGOING
ONGOING
Page 4 of 7
BM
City of Edinburgh Council, Sciennes Primary School Playground – Actions Taken in Response to D Yearley (RoSPA) Health &Safety Risk Assessment Item 26
Activity/ Hazard Loose Parts Play Items
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28
Recommendation Ensure supervisors are aware of the risks and provide suitable guidance to children.
Remove the loose parts during out of school hours use.
General Bumps and Slips
Ensure supervisors are aware of the risks and provide suitable guidance to children.
Action Taken Playground Supervisors attended a course run by Grounds for Learning on March 2015 and were part of the Loose Parts Training run by Play Development in March 2015. A brief on Playground Safety at Sciennes has been distributed to all staff. The Playground Supervisors remove the loose parts at the end of the lunchtime session and SSO/Teaching staff remove them at other times. A brief on Playground Safety at Sciennes is distributed to all staff. Children also receive information and guidance on playground risks during assemblies.
Page 5 of 7
Action Owner HT
Target Date ONGOING
Status 6 April 16 ONGOING
HT
Ongoing
ONGOING
HT
Ongoing
ONGOING
City of Edinburgh Council, Sciennes Primary School Playground – Actions Taken in Response to D Yearley (RoSPA) Health &Safety Risk Assessment Compliance with EN Standards Item Activity/ Hazard 29
Boulders and timber edges
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Protection against falling
Recommendation
35
Extent of impact area and extent of falling space
Action Owner BM
Boulders to be rounded off. (item 3)
All accessible boulders/rock edges are now rounded off and comply with EN 1176.
Timber to the side of the tunnel entrances to be rounded off.
All accessible timber edges are now rounded off and comply with EN 1176.
BM
Stones slabs of the amphitheatre to be rounded off. (item 14)
All accessible stone slab edges are now rounded off and comply with EN 1176.
BM
Edges to the underside of the support struts to the type ramp to be rounded off. Consider placing barriers around the timber tower structure.
All accessible timber edges are now rounded off and comply with EN 1176.
BM
The recommendation to consider placing barriers around the timber tower structure has been fully considered with David Yearley (Independent Consultant) and the decision has been made that the platform is compliant with EN 1176 with the prohibition of children under four, and that the introduction of barriers would significantly reduce the play benefit. Signage to prohibit children under four has been erected. The rock identified in the falling / impact area has been removed and the unit is now compliant with EN 1176. The timber wall has been adjusted and the impact area extended to 1.5m from the wall at all points and complies with EN 1176.
HT
Currently it is fitted with guardrails which are considered sufficient to prevent children from falling off this item.
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Action Taken
Remove rock in falling space (at foot of tunnel). (item 7) Extend impact area to a minimum of 1.5m - falls from timber sleeper wall. (item 1)
Page 6 of 7
BM
BM
Target Date 19 February 2016 19 February 2016 19 February 2016 19 February 2016
Status
19 February 2016 19 February 2016
EN Standard covered. EN Standard covered.
EN Standard covered. EN Standard covered. EN Standard covered. EN Standard covered. EN Standard covered.
City of Edinburgh Council, Sciennes Primary School Playground – Actions Taken in Response to D Yearley (RoSPA) Health &Safety Risk Assessment Inspection regime (additional actions) INSPECTIONS Playground safety
Action
Action Owner HT
Target Date 1 March 2016
Status
36
A RPII Play Area Safety Inspection (level 3) has been carried out. Independent RoPSA inspections will be carried out quarterly.
HT
Each term
Ongoing
37
Daily documented inspections will be carried out as part of the dynamic risk assessment (including out of term time) Daily visual inspections will be carried out during term time
BM /SSO
Daily
Ongoing
Playground Daily Supervisors
Ongoing
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39
Not started In progress / on track/ ongoing Overdue Completed EN standard covered off in previous recommendations
Page 7 of 7
Completed