"150 miles up the Western Isles"
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment started off for me as a formality which made working with groups safe, responsible, and legal! I quickly realised that Risk Assessment is much more than that. It can be done on paper before activities (formal) and in your head during activities (dynamic). I've seen and used various risk assessment pro-forma, and have come up with my own - see below for the Western Isles expedition. There is a Generic Risk Assessment and Specific Risk Assessment. There is also a risk probability, seriousness, and 'multiplied risk'. I think if the latter is ever above 50 (max is 100) for any activity that I plan then it's verging on suicidal, and I won't be doing it! (The highest in this one is 20.)
** Update - in hindsight, I would reduce the scale to just 3 rather than 10, as the difference between a risk of 64 and 72 is meaningless. **
** Update - I haven't had time to do a written specific risk assessment. This will need to be done on route, e.g. west coast of Lewis, I will not attempt the 25 mile coast with no landing zones if the swell is big, etc. **
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Generic Risk Assessment (i.e. things that could happen anywhere, anytime) |
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Risk Name |
Probability (P) (1 to10) |
Seriousness (S) (1 to 10) |
Overall Risk (P x S) (0 to 100) |
A = Preventative Action B = Reactive Action |
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Medical Risks |
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Hypothermia |
2 |
10 |
20 |
A Wear suitable clothing to keep warm A Avoid getting wet B If on water, get off the water and set up camp, or use bivvy/bothy bag B Get dry and warm B Eat something B Drink something warm/hot |
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Dehydration |
4 |
5 |
20 |
A Always drink enough water at all times during the day B Drink water with electrolytes (sugar, salt, food) |
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Exhaustion |
2 |
4 |
8 |
A Eat and drink enough A Don’t push yourself ‘too far’ A Try to get a good night’s sleep B Have days off from paddling |
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Head injury |
2 |
8 |
16 |
A Avoid any situation where a head injury is likely A Keep helmet securely strapped on deck, easy to access when needed B Be prepared to practice self first aid B Call for help (on VHF or mobile phone) |
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Anything else |
? |
? |
? |
A Act responsibly and don’t take overly dangerous risks B Deal with it as appropriate in F.A. training B Call for help |
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Equipment Risks |
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Battery flat on VHF and/or other appliances (phone and GPS) |
5 |
2 |
10 |
A Only turn VHF on when there is a weather forecast on (see planning sheet for forecast times) A Only turn other equipment on when needed A Ensure equipment is trickle charging from solar panels B Take extra care with everything and don’t take unnecessary risks B Try to find somewhere to get equipment charged, or fix solar panel charging system |
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Leaking boat |
1 |
10 |
10 |
A Ensure boat is not leaking in pre-expedition trials A Take care not to puncture boat by avoiding rocks and dodgy surf landings B Fix boat on the shore (using rough water landing/launch if required) B If can’t get ashore immediately, try to make it to a landing zone B If cannot get to landing zone, get out of the boat, and fix on the water! B If cannot fix the boat, abandon trying, and call the Coastguard |
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Lost paddle |
1 |
4 |
4 |
A Use a paddle leash B Use splits (try to find 1st paddle if conditions allow) |
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Boat floated away while ashore |
0.5 |
10 |
5 |
A Always ensure boat is above appropriate HW level when on land A Always keep VHF and mobile phone on person B Call boats to find kayak B Give up the expedition and go home! |
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No money to buy food |
0.5 |
10 |
5 |
Keep emergency money in B.A. |
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Environmental Risks |
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Capsize |
1 |
6 |
6 |
A Take care with strokes and be aware of the environment A Use support strokes B Self rescue B Swim ashore with boat |
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Paddling partner capsize |
1 |
5 |
5 |
A Paddle with people who will cope with the likely conditions B Put them back in their boat if they can’t self rescue B If it’s turning epic either get them ashore (with or without boat) or B Call coastguard |
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Unexpected tidal flow |
1 |
5 |
5 |
A Put as much time into navigational planning as possible before expedition A At the end of each day, check plan for next day including distances, landing zones, escape routes, tidal predictions, etc. B Get out of the tidal stream if dangerous B Persevere through the flow |
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Big (i.e. too big) surf landing |
2 |
8 |
16 |
A Choose landing spots where there isn’t likely to be a big surf landing A Don’t set off on days where you are only going to have a big surf landing to get off the water A Practice progressively bigger surf landings as part of training schedule B Find a landing zone that doesn’t have big surf B If no other landing zones, choose safest zone, check for sets, then surf in or B If no other landings zones, wet exit, put tow line or drogue on, push boat in first |
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Big (i.e. too big) surf launch |
2 |
8 |
16 |
A As above B As above |
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Unexpected bad weather |
2 |
7 |
14 |
A Check weather forecasts whenever they are on (see planning info sheet) B If it is likely to cause any kind of incident, call off the paddling and get ashore |
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Making no progress into the wind |
4 |
3 |
12 |
A Avoid paddling stretches where you know it will be too windy for the period paddled A Have a day off B Persevere through it B Find shelter (either on or off shore) and wait for the wind to drop |
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Paddling in the dark |
1 |
8 |
8 |
A Plan days so that you are off the water before it gets dark, preferably well before, so that you have time to set up camp and cook while it is warm A Check navigation lights on charts B Use previously learned night navigation techniques and experience B Use head torch / glow sticks / B.A. light |
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Sustenance and Camping Risks |
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Run out of food |
1 |
9 |
9 |
A Carry enough emergency food to get to next pick up point A Try to catch and find enough on route B Use emergency food to get to next pick up point |
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Run out of water |
1 |
10 |
10 |
A Carry enough water to get to next source A Take water filter and iodine tablets (in FA kit) B Boil water when you get to source (if not domestic) B Use water filter and/or iodine tablets |
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No natural source of heat (i.e. can’t get fire lit) |
6 |
1 |
6 |
A Try to pick landing spots where there will be natural fuel A Keep emergency fuel (wood and heather) in a dry bag on deck B Use emergency stove (MSR Dragonfly with Petrol) |
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