HS309 Hazard and risk management

1. Any ECE Activity Room equipment used by children as part of the ECE programme are checked on every day for hazards. Checks include at least:

   • cleaning agents, medicines, poisons and other hazardous materials;

   • electrical sockets and appliances;  

   • vandalism, dangerous objects and foreign materials;  

   • the conditions and placement of learning, play and other equipment;  

   • bodies of water; and  

   • heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage

2. Hazards eliminated, isolated or minimised.  

Documentation required (written or digital)  

A documented risk assessment and management system.

How to show you are complying 

Keeping everyone safe at your service means actively managing hazards and risks.

You will need to develop a risk assessment and management system (RAMS). This system needs to be clear, practical, and tailored to your service’s environment.

The requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) also apply.

The core components of a RAMS are outlined below.

Hazard identification

Hazards create health and safety risks, this can include items or situations that could cause harm—injury, illness, or even death. Start by reviewing common hazards like unsafe furniture, equipment, or surfaces, indoors and outdoors.

Assess the risk

For each hazard, ask:

• who could be harmed?

• what could happen (e.g. injury, illness)?

• how likely is it to happen?

Take steps to manage the risks 

Eliminate hazards where possible. If not, minimise or isolate them.

Elimination means removing the hazard. For example, implementing a 'no hot drinks' policy can prevent spills that might scald or burn children.

Isolating means separating something that could cause harm from people – especially children. As an example, covering electrical outlets isolates the risk of electric shock by preventing children from inserting objects.

Minimising hazards means taking steps to reduce the chance of someone getting hurt or injured. This includes securing furniture and guiding children through safe risk-taking.

Securing heavy furniture and equipment minimises the risk of injury if they fall or topple:

• use strong fixings that can hold the full weight of the item. Attach heavy furniture to the building structure, not just to wallboards, which might not be strong enough

• secure items near the top rather than the bottom when possible—this helps stop them from tipping over (like a fridge)

• use lockable wheels and short chains with secure wall anchors (like carabiners or D-bolts) to safely anchor heavy furniture while still allowing it to be moved when needed

• use Velcro, wax, or non-slip mats to keep small appliances like microwaves or stereos in place

• store heavy items on lower shelves to reduce the risk of them falling.

Supporting safe risk-taking in children's play 

Some risks are part of learning and play. Serious harm can often be prevented when adults use professional judgement and close supervision.  

• adults should guide children to use equipment safely

• know children’s interests and abilities to anticipate their actions

• provide close supervision for higher-risk activities, step in when needed to prevent harm or delay or modify the activity if close supervision isn’t possible.

Implement the risk control measures

Your risk assessment and management system must be documented, you can do this in a number of ways. 

The most common risk assessment and management systems include a daily hazard check sheet and a risk register which you can share with people who are on site, so they understand and implement any risk mitigations you have in place. 

Monitor and review the risk control measures

You might find the hazard checklist in the tools section useful for making sure all required areas are checked each day.