Risk Assessment

Woods Bowls Club does not employ any full-time staff, but Health and Safety law requires that where volunteers are used on a regular basis (e.g. Secretary, Treasurer, Green Staff, etc.) they should, for the purposes of the Act, be treated as employees, even if unpaid. Bowls clubs generally have identified the following principal areas where they need to monitor closely the risks associated with the work done by volunteers:

a) Fire

b) Trips & Falls

c) Electricity - Risk of Fire and Personal Injury

d) Chemicals & Fertilisers

e) Use of machinery

f) Food safety

g) First Aid

h) Hot Weather

i) Children and Adults at Risk

j) Risks on the Green

Woods Bowls Club’s measures in Place to Mitigate Risk

a) Fire

The fire extinguishers are inspected annually and serviced by qualified personnel.

b) Trips & Falls

At the beginning of each season the premises and green are checked by the Chairman to ensure that potential hazards are appropriately marked and that any necessary warning signs are visible. An Accident Book is maintained and kept on the premises in which all incidents are recorded.

c) Electricity - Risk of Fire and Personal Injury

Electrical installations and portable electrical equipment are subject to periodic inspection and testing.

d) Chemicals & Fertilisers

Chemicals and Fertilisers are held securely under lock and key. Use of chemicals is by the ‘Greens Team’ only or contracted out to an appropriately qualified contractor. Wherever possible safer alternatives are selected before chemicals are handled.

e) Use of Machinery

All machinery is kept fully maintained and regularly serviced. First time users of machinery are trained and initially supervised by experienced members of the ‘Greens Team’.

f) Food Safety

Kitchen facilities are maintained to a high standard and members are made aware of Food Hygiene requirements.

g) First Aid

The Club’s membership cannot necessarily expect to have been trained in first aid to deal with any specific incident. Nonetheless, the Club owns a first aid box that is regularly checked. The location of the first aid box will be made known to all members. Information about how emergency assistance can be obtained is displayed.

All members are deemed medically able to participate in bowls matches, if necessary members should obtain a letter from their doctor to confirm.

h) Hot Weather

The club will ensure that members do not put themselves at risk by bowling in extreme conditions. Appropriate breaks from the heat will be allowed and cold water will be made available to players for re-hydration throughout games.

i) Children and Adults at Risk

The Club has a clearly publicised Safeguarding Adult and Child Protection Policy, and a Welfare Officer duly trained for the purpose.

j) Risks on the Green

Surfaces affected by poor weather need more care when manoeuvring. Running on the green is discouraged. New members are instructed on how to trap a bowl which comes towards them, by using the sole of their shoe. Bowls must be placed on the ground and not dropped. New members will also be shown the safe way of stepping onto and off the green. Players “firing” into the head must warn players at the receiving end. After an end has finished, all bowls must be moved to behind the mat and players must be wary of any trip hazards created.

Summary

Risk assessments are mostly common sense and experienced members should aim to eliminate risks, as soon as noticed, by notifying competent people around the club if they are unable do anything themselves at the time.

Review date March 2026