Knowing how to assess and deal with risks will enable you to:

	keep our students safe
	keep yourself safe
	keep your colleagues safe

Risks are present at all times – in the classroom, on excursions, in activity sessions and in residences.  We all need to be aware of them and minimise them.

Note that there are no tests in this section – they aren't appropriate.  However, you should have a pen and paper to hand because you'll need to take notes of your responses to questions.

Assessing risk

We need to consider two things

	how important is the risk, how serious the consequences of an accident?
	how likely is it that an accident will occur?

Clearly, some risks are common and result in very little damage.  Some are rare but have extremely serious consequences.

Take a moment to think about each of the following.  Make a note of your response.

Ask yourself if the incident is

Rare?

Common?

Serious?

Minor?

Classify each event with two of the following R, C, S and M.

For example, RS = Rare and Serious, CM = Common and Minor, RM = Rare and Minor.

Falling under a moving train

Getting stung by a wasp

Slipping on wet floor

Falling downstairs

Falling out of a second-floor window

Cutting yourself on a pair of scissors