Hazard Identification Sheet

Risk: Death or serious injury

Existing control measures at the museum

• Museum staff are trained and practised in managing evacuations when fire or other incidents occur. Evacuation procedures are explained on the museum’s website; a link to this page is given in the correspondence sent to group leaders prior to their visit.

Further action required from group leaders

You should: 

• Read and understand the museum’s evacuation information – especially the implications of zonal evacuation – before your visit. 
• Brief students and accompanying adults about what to do in the event of an evacuation.

Risk:  Safeguarding concerns

Existing control measures at the museum

• We state that group leaders must stay with their group at all times to ensure their health and safety. 
• Group leaders are asked to confirm their acceptance of supervisory requirements, including the need to stay with their group, when using the museum’s online form to request their visit.
• Evacuation procedures and supervisory requirements are explained on the museum’s website; a link to this page is given in confirmation correspondence sent to group leaders.
• On arrival at the museum group leaders are reminded by museum staff to accompany their group at all times to ensure their health, safety and behaviour. 
• Museum staff are aware of safeguarding requirements when helping young people separated from their group. 
• A mobile phone number is recorded for the group leader in case museum staff need to contact them

Further action required from group leaders

You should: 

• Read and understand the museum’s health and safety information prior to the visit.
• Ensure young people are always accompanied while in the museum. 
• Brief your group about what to do if they become separated.
• Ensure that everyone is present before leaving the museum

Risk:  Physical and mental harm, prosecution, litigation

Existing control measures at the museum

• We state that group leaders must stay with their group at all times, to ensure their health and safety. 
• Group leaders are asked to confirm their acceptance of supervisory requirements, including the need to stay with their group, when using the museum’s online form to request their visit. 
• Supervisory requirements are explained on the museum’s website; a link to this page is given in confirmation correspondence sent to group leaders. 
• On arrival at the museum group leaders are reminded by museum staff to accompany their group at all times to ensure their health, safety and behaviour. 
• Museum staff working directly with young people have DBS certificates. All museum staff will follow Science Museum Group guidelines on working with young people.

Further action required from group leaders

You should: 

• Tell your group what to do if they experience improper conduct.
• Immediately report any instance of or concerns about improper conduct to a member of museum staff.

Risk:  Injury to visitors, damage to exhibits.

Existing control measures at the museum

• Group leaders are required to stay with their group at all times to ensure their conduct. 
• Group leaders are asked to confirm their acceptance of supervisory requirements when using the museum’s online form to request their visit. 
• Supervisory requirements are included in visit confirmation correspondence. 
• On arrival, group leaders are reminded by museum staff to accompany their group at all times to ensure their health, safety and behaviour.
• Museum staff will raise concerns about poor behaviour or misconduct with the group leader and ask them to address the situation. If misbehaviour persists, museum staff may ask group leaders to remove the offending young people from the museum

Further action required from group leaders

You should: 

• Brief your group about appropriate behaviour in a large public venue and have plans in place in case anyone is asked to leave the building because of unacceptable conduct
   

Risk:  Slip, fall and/or injury

Existing control measures at the museum

• Museum staff finding a spillage will report it to cleaners to be mopped up. 
• Wet floor signs will be put in place by museum staff when aware of wet flooring.

Further action required from group leaders

You should: 

• Inform museum staff if there is a leak or spill from drinks carried by your group.

Risk:  Trip, fall and/or injury

Existing control measures at the museum

• All stairs have handrails. 
• Tread edges are clearly defined.

Further action required from group leaders

You should: 

•    Remind young people to pay attention and behave appropriately when using stairs

Risk:  Minor injuries to limbs, spread of disease, allergic reactions, interference with medical devices

Existing control measures at the museum

• Specific exhibits that may present a higher risk are highlighted on the museum’s website; a link is given in visit confirmation correspondence sent to group leaders. 
• Warning signs are in place for exhibits using magnets that can affect medical devices. 
• Adult-to-child supervisory ratios are in place to ensure health and safety and encourage appropriate behaviour. They are explained and enforced at the time of booking. 
• Museum staff will brief groups on arrival to explain how to behave in the area

Further action required from group leaders

You should: 

• Tell museum staff about any health considerations within your group at the time of booking and on arrival at the museum. 
• Explain potential hazards to your group. 
• Proactively supervise your group in hands-on areas and remind your other accompanying adults to do the same. 
• Encourage hand washing after interaction with hands-on exhibits.