Criterion HS108#

1.  Equipment, premises and facilities are checked everyday for hazards. Checks include at least:  
   • cleaning agents, medicines, poisons and other hazardous materials; 
   • electrical sockets and appliances;  
   • hazards present in kitchen or laundry facilities; 
   • vandalism, dangerous objects, and foreign materials;  
   • the condition and placement of learning, play and other equipment;
   • windows and other areas of glass; 
   • poisonous plants;
   • bodies of water; and
   • heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage. 
2. Hazards are eliminated, isolated or minimised. 
3. Injury/incident records are analysed to identify recurring and emerging hazards and appropriate action is taken.  

Documentation required (written or digital) #

A documented risk assessment and management system. 

Guidance #

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 and 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. These can include items or situations that could cause harm including injury, illness, or even death. Use the list in the criterion as a starting place to consider the hazards at your centre. These may change over time. 

Assess the risk

For each hazard, ask:

• Who could be harmed?
• What could happen (for example, injury, illness)?
• How likely is it to happen?

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 like climbing on high equipment, cooking, or playing near water
• step in when needed to prevent harm.
• delay or modify the activity if close supervision is not possible.

Takes steps to manage the risks 

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

Elimination means removing the hazard. For example, empty the water trough when it is not being supervised. 

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. You should:

• 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 like a fridge near the top rather than the bottom when possible – this helps stop them from tipping over
• 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.

Document your risk assessment and management system

Your RAMS must be documented.

The most common RAMS include:

• a daily hazard check sheet
• a more detailed playground safety check
• 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

Accident and incident records need to be reviewed to spot new and emerging hazards and areas where harm has happened. This helps you check if your safety measures are working and take steps to better protect children.

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

Tools to help you comply