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Description of Location
These studies take place within a classroom at the centre, a disused quarry (now a nature reserve) and if you request it, within a working sand quarry. To reach the outdoor learning areas entails passing close to workings, and along some of the haul roads used by vehicles to reach and leave the workings. Vehicles may be expected to be travelling through the area at some time during the activity. Parts of the journey border a haul road and a working area of the quarry. The site is of mixed topography, with some hilly areas, some depressions, previously quarried areas and ponds but mainly covered by mixed woodlands and scrub. Some parts of this study may entail visiting the working part of the quarry, if you request it.
Likely Hazards
• Handling rocks.
• Handling soil.
• Heavy plant equipment involved in the extraction of sand from the quarry, either at the extractive site or moving around the quarry via various haul roads.
• Lorries moving around the site to collect and transport sand.
• Pathways may be close to working quarry areas / faces.
• Quarry depth could cause a hazard.
• Children wandering out of sight of supervising staff.
Existing Precautions
• Children are reminded that handling of rocks must be done carefully and sensibly to avoid any accidents.
• Children are reminded not to put their fingers near their mouth after handling rocks and soils, in particular if they have touched the lead sample.
• Pupils are informed of the dangers that they may face on the journey around the area.
• They are involved in decisions on how they may best complete the journey in the safest way possible.
• In areas where the paths are close to the workings / faces, they must not go near the edge.
• Close proximity to heavy plant areas is avoided. Where the study looks at quarrying, following agreement with the quarry and site management, all people going into the working area will wear hard hats provided by the company. Quarrying will stop, unless a demonstration into extractive measures is shown. At this point pupils will retreat to a safe distance from the extraction area.
• When entering the working quarry children are reminded of the dangers, they are then lined up, hard hats put on, and shown where is safe to walk and stand.
• When crossing haul road areas, the pupils are encouraged to treat the road like a main highway. Crossing is only permitted when the road is clear, with no obvious signs of it being used.
• Pupils who behave in an unacceptable, unsafe manner around the area will be excluded from the activity for the safety of others. They and the other pupils will not be allowed to leave the activity area, without supervision, until the activity has been completed. Only then will they be allowed to leave.
• Staff and adults should be aware of all those pupils placed under their supervision. Centre staff should not be included in this provision as they are in overall charge of the activity and should only be involved in its safe control.
• Groups should carry the minimum allowed in a First Aid kit.
• Groups should carry their own mobile phone. Each activity leader from the Centre will also carry a mobile phone. Please ensure that staff issued with the phone know how to use it, and have a list of emergency contact numbers, including that of the school.
• Schools should adhere to the staffing ratios specified by their employing authority for the size of group they bring. If the school is from out of authority, Doncaster regulations will be enforced unless that authority ratio is lower.
Additional factors that could be taken into account to reduce risks or risk factors
• Pupils could have some experience of quarrying and looking at rocks and soils through previous training.
• Experience in aspects of general road safety.
• Increasing the ratios of school staff and adults participating.
• Ensuring the schools policy on helping adults is known and understood before the visit by all those adults participating.
• Ensuring the activity provider has a thorough understanding of all your requirements for the activity, the numbers, age, general health (including disabled / handicapped within able bodied groups) of the pupils, and where necessary staff involved, ability range of pupils and those likely to cause problems.
• Consideration for the groups general safety, by excluding those likely to create a serious problem from the activity, or by specific control methods to be used for such pupils; i.e. 1:1 ratios with staff / helpers.
• Please also consider when making your assessments, as the generic one does not include, the competence, experience and qualifications of all supervisory staff sent by the schools.
• Does anyone on the trip hold First Aid certification?
• How long has the teacher in charge of each class been qualified?
• Has that person previous experience of organising / participating in a school trip?
• But above all... do the pupils understand what you expect of them from the visit? Have they, and how have they been prepared for this experience?
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