The following information is for guidance only and is intended as an educational support resource and not as definitive or medically informed guidance.
Risk assessment refers to the process of making decisions that will help to avoid and reduce the impact of unexpected and undesired outcomes. Practitioners need to be fully aware of what can go wrong and know how to implement strategies as preventative measures. Decisions and actions taken to recognise - and minimise risk - need to be applied consistently in the delivery of all aspects of your work.
You should be able to demonstrate that you have undertaken a risk assessment in relation to all factors that could present a hazard to health and potentially cause injury or even death. In the event of an insurance claim, your risk assessment records may be requested by the insurer.
There are five stages in undertaking a Risk Assessment:
- Identify potential hazards
- Establish who might be at risk/harmed and how
- Assess the risks, decide whether existing precautions/procedures are adequate or whether more steps are required
- Record your findings
- Regularly review your assessment and revise if necessary.
All risk assessments need to be tailored to each individuals’ practice, context and the population you are teaching.
Resources
Creative Lives offer a briefing paper about risk assessment for event organisers, available online here www.creative-lives.org/risk-assessment-for-event-organisers-a-beginners-guide
People Dancing offer a short online course: Risk Assessment for Participatory Arts Practitioners Online Course and Assessment that aims to help dancers, dance practitioners and participatory artists understand their legal responsibilities in relation to health and safety at work and provides guidance on what to do in the event that an incident takes place in relation to their class, rehearsal or general practice. The course comprises factual information, scenarios, interactive questions and example risk assessment templates. You can then evidence your knowledge by taking an assessment, and gain a qualification: Risk Assessment for Participatory Arts Practitioners - Level 2 Award.
If you are planning to work online check out this Guidance for working online, and online safeguarding from Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance, Arts Marketing Association, 64 Million Artists and Real Ideas.