Risk Assessment in Physical Activity

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Risk Assessment in Physical Activity
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In this section we will look at

• Potential hazards in PE
• Prevention of injuries / minimising risk inc
  level of competition, clothing / footwear,
  correct technique, knowledge of safety
  procedures, rules / laws, warm up / cool down,
  personal protective equipment, personal hygiene
• Injury treatment

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Potential Hazards

• Teachers have a legal and professional
  responsibility to make risk assessments and
  minimise the level of risk faced by their
  students, or to refrain from entering into
  situations where such risk cannot be brought
  within acceptable levels.
• Students (especially GCSE PE students) should
  also develop a sense of responsibility for their
  own welfare and that of others.

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Potential Areas of Hazard (as identified by OCR)

• Court area
• Gymnasium
• Outdoor adventurous activities on land and on
  water
• Playing field
• Sports hall
• Swimming pool

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Court Areas

• Often used for netball and tennis. Also for
  basketball, football, fitness work. General
  playground for rest of school. Sometimes for
  community use as well as school.
• Possible hazards
• litter broken fencing nails / splinters
  wobbly posts / portable feet sticking out rain,
  snow, frost, inadequate maintenance projecting
  sockets unprotected windows
• Explain how each of these might contribute to
  possible injury AND how they might be avoided

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The Gymnasium

• Many gyms also used as indoor games area what
  is the danger here?
• Before a gym lesson what should you / teacher
  check?
• Floor is clean, dry, free from dust / grit. Why?
• Portable apparatus safely stored away
• Fixed apparatus have been secured to wall
• Any projections, hooks etc you think are unsafe
  then bring to attention of teacher
• Bolts / catches are secured in place on equipment

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The Playing Field

• Often difficult to close off effectively and
  often used by members of public. (Not always
  officially approved!)
• Potential hazards you name some
• Dog mess Crushed drinks cans General litter
• Long grass / uneven surfaces
• Frost, ice, snow, heavy rain
• Wobbly goals why? Boundary markers why?
• Unprotected rugby posts why?
• Non-flexi corner posts
• Smooth soled footwear why?

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The Sports Hall

• In lots of ways, similar to a gym but larger!
• Often more than one activity going on at same
  time be mindful of this as a student!
• Greater numbers of people, lots of balls flying
  around
• Often more than one entry / exit point. Be aware!

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The Swimming Pool

• Potential hazards are divided into 2 here 1
  pool-based activities 2 pool and its immediate
  surroundings
• 1 ASA and RLSS publish clear guidelines on all
  aspects of safety and potential hazards, but the
  biggest danger is the behaviour and attitude of
  those who use it
• 2 People can drown do not do anything you are
  not told to do by coach / teacher
• Read section on swimming p 131 you are probably
  aware of many of the safety rules from your own
  leisure time in pool