Risk Assessments

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General Overview

The Cheltenham Square Dance Club is a social club of people wishing to learn and enjoy the experience of Modern American Square Dancing. Regular Club Nights are held for members to learn and practice their dancing skills, and periodically larger events are staged to which other square dance clubs are invited. As in all active pastimes, the risk of injury cannot be eliminated but all dancers are responsible for their own safety and that of others. To this end, sensible/appropriate footwear needs to be worn at all times (high heels/stilettos are not allowed, neither may Dancers go barefoot). Dress code is relaxed and members tend to wear jeans/trousers or a skirt of a length which will not cause tripping or slipping whilst dancing.

Members Responsibilities

Each member is responsible for:-

1. Keeping Health and Safety issues at the front of their mind, and remaining compliant with Health and Safety guidelines at all times. This will involve taking personal responsibility for their own health and safety and that of others, albeit through their own acts or omissions.

2. Cooperating with the club to enable compliance with health and safety duties and requirements.

3. Complying with health and safety instructions and rules, including those regarding the safe use of equipment.

4. Keeping the dance place tidy and free of hazards.

5. Familiarising themselves of fire and emergency evacuation procedures.

6. Reporting any health and safety concerns promptly including any potential risk, hazard or malfunction of equipment no matter how trivial or minor it may seem to be.

7. Promptly reporting any incident involving personal injury.

8. Cooperating with investigations into any incident or accident which caused, or had the potential to cause, injury.

A risk assessment is not about eliminating risk. Life doesn't work that way. It is about managing risk and ensuring that the risk of anybody coming to serious harm is negligible. It is particularly important of course that bystanders are not harmed, but the actual dancers will take their chances of bruised knuckles, twisted ankles and such like just as with any person involved in a physical activity.

The HSE is on record as saying that what we are about is managing risk sensibly - not stopping people's fun. You can find more information on this on their web site at http://hse.gov.uk/risk/principles.htm

Potential Risk	Who may be at risk	Further Action	By whom
Fire hazards	Anyone in attendance at venue	All fire exits to be kept clear. Ensure no smoking ban is adhered to. All participants to be made aware of the evacuation procedure. Anyone violating fire safety rules to be asked to leave venue.	a) Any Committee Member b) The caller for the event c) Anyone in attendance at the event who identifies a risk
Dance Injury	All dancers.	As in all active pastimes the risk of injury cannot be eliminated and all dancers need to responsible for their own safety. However it should be recognised that dance skills/footwork are built up over time and newer dancers may be at more risk of causing an accident and will need guidance from more experienced dancers/caller. In the event of injury, the appropriate emergency services will be contacted, and the circumstances recorded in the club accident book	a) All dancers b) The caller for the event c) Anyone in attendance at the event who identifies a risk
Tripping	Anyone in attendance at venue	All leads/cables to be kept out of the way and/or taped down if necessary. Speaker tripods not to encroach onto the dancing area. Everyone to be reminded about keeping personal belongings off the dance floor and tucked under chairs.	a) It is most likely that cables and other equipment will belong to the caller for the event. It is therefore predominantly their responsibility to minimise the tripping hazard. b) Anyone in attendance at the event who identifies a risk
Spillages/Slipping	Anyone in attendance at venue	Ensure dance floor and surrounding area is clean/clear of debris. Any spillages to be cleaned up immediately.	a) Whoever spills it cleans it up immediately b) Committee to be generally alert for spillages etc.
Dance Floor Etiquette	All dancers	Teach floor etiquette: do not cross through squares, leave space for other dancers comfort, use of correct hand holds. Continuing to remind all dancers of the floor etiquette for their own safety and comfort.	a) The caller for the event b) The Committee to be generally alert to unsafe actions on the dance floor.
Food and Drink	Anyone in attendance at venue Catering Officers	No food or drink allowed on the dance floor. Hand cleanser to be provided on refreshments table	a) All Committee members
Manual handling/Equipment	Anyone handling heavy items, bulky items or items at height.	Ensure correct movement of tables/chairs/sound system Everyone to be reminded to ask for help if they think the item they need to move is too heavy or bulky or too high for them to move safely.	a) It is most likely that sound equipment will belong to the caller for the event. It is therefore predominantly their responsibility to minimise the handling hazard for this equipment. b) Tables etc. are likely to be moved by committee members and other helpers. It is therefore predominantly their responsibility to seek assistance when moving heavy items. c) Everyone involved with moving and handling equipment.

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