A ‘risk assessment’ of potential hazards such as rabbit holes, ploughed fields and overhanging branches needs to be carried out prior to any scheduled walk. (This is according to Leicestershire and Rutland Rural council)
The members of the Wigston Civic Society were shocked to learn that in order to take part in their annual Two Steeples walk they had to fill out a two page risk assessment highlighting the possible dangers that they might face, dangers such as ploughed fields, high risk rabbit holes and slippery surfaces. They were then asked to grade these hazards in terms of their danger factor – high, medium or low.
An organiser of the trip, Mary Essinger, said: ‘In the 25 years I’ve been doing country walks I can’t remember any accidents. I just wish people would realise everything you do has a bit of risk to it. You could just as easily fall over walking on the pavement but you don’t need a risk assessment form for that.”
Filed under: Health & Safety | Tagged: Councils, Health & Safety
