Hazard identification for education groups

Existing control measures at the museum 

• Duty managers and security staff are onsite whilst the museum is open and can respond to any incidents. 
• The museum has trained staff to provide first aid. 
• The museum has a fully equipped, accessible first aid room. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Read the museum's first aid information prior to your visit. 
• If you need any assistance whilst at the museum: 
• Speak to a member of staff or call the front desk on 0161 606 0199.

Risk

Death or major 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 risk assessment information webpage, which is sent to group leaders prior to their visit. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Read the museum's evacuation information prior to your visit. 
• Brief students and accompanying adults about what to do in the event of an evacuation. 

Risk

A child comes to physical or emotional harm 

Existing control measures at the museum 

• The museum has a safeguarding policy in place. 
• We require that all groups report safeguarding concerns to a member of staff at the first opportunity. 
• Museum staff are trained to deal with safeguarding incidents and to identify and report any concerns. 
• We state that group leaders must always stay with their group, to ensure their health and safety. 
• Supervisory requirements are detailed on the museum's risk assessment information webpage, which is sent to group leaders prior to their visit. 
• Museum staff are aware of safeguarding requirements when helping young people separated from their group. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Read the museum's safeguarding information prior to your visit. 
• Ensure young people are always accompanied by a responsible adult while in the museum. 
• Brief your group that if they become separated, they should ask a uniformed member of staff for help and stay with them. Our staff will contact our Duty Managers or Security team who will call the lead teacher on the mobile number you supplied at the time of booking. 
• If you realise that a student has become separated from the group, please ask one of our uniformed members of staff to contact our Duty Managers or Security team.  
• 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 always stay with their group to ensure their health and safety. 
• Supervisory requirements are explained on the museum's risk assessment information webpage, which is sent to group leaders prior to their visit. 
• Museum staff working directly with young people have undergone an enhanced DBS check. 
• All museum staff will follow Science Museum Group guidelines on working with young people. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Tell your group what to do if they experience improper conduct. 
• Immediately report any instance 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 always stay with their group to ensure their conduct. 
• Supervisory requirements are explained on the museum's risk assessment information webpage, which is sent to group leaders prior to their visit. 
• 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 by group leaders 

You should: 

• Brief your group about appropriate behaviour in a large public venue. 
• Have plans in place in case anyone is asked to leave the building due to unacceptable conduct. 

Risk

Injury resulting from slip, trip or fall  

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 by group leaders 

You should: 

• You should inform museum staff if you spot a leakage or spillage, e.g., from drinks carried by your group. 

Risk

Minor injury from trapped fingers/hands or wheels run over feet 

Existing control measures at the museum 

• Storage cages are checked monthly and serviced annually. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You must: 

• Cages should not require moving, but if they do, ensure only responsible adults move them.
• Ensure only responsible adults open and close cages, and attach padlocks.

Risk

Injury resulting from slip, trip, or fall 

Existing control measures at the museum 

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

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• You should remind young people to pay attention and behave appropriately when using stairs. 

Risk

Minor injuries to limbs, spread of disease, allergic reaction 

Existing control measures at the museum 

• Adult to child supervisory ratios are in place to ensure health and safety, and encourage appropriate behaviour. These are detailed on the museum's risk assessment information webpage. 
• Each gallery has an appropriate capacity. Schools are encouraged to schedule a timeslot to visit each gallery, to promote a safe distribution of groups around the site.  
• For any shows or museum staff-led activities which take place on gallery, museum staff will brief groups on arrival on expected behaviour. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

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

Risk

Injury resulting from slip, trip, or fall 

Existing control measures at the museum 

• A network of smooth paths connects all museum buildings. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Ensure your group uses the smooth paths to move between the museum buildings. 

Risk

Injury to visitors. Potential damage to machinery 

Existing control measures at the museum 

• There are barriers surrounding our Historic Working Machinery. 
• Machinery compounds will remain locked at all times. 
• All moving machinery has been risk assessed and is only operated by trained, competent members of staff. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Brief your group about the Historic Working Machinery and the reasons for the barriers. 
• Proactively supervise your group in areas where there is moving machinery and remind other accompanying adults in your group to do the same. 

Risk

Major injury from construction materials or machinery 

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. 
• Current works and which buildings are open and closed is detailed on the museum's visit webpage, which is sent to group leaders prior to their visit. 
• Construction work will take place within cordoned off areas which are not accessible to visitors.  
• Construction sites will display relevant health and safety signage, including no access. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Brief your group about any work happening on site. 
• Proactively supervise your group and remind other accompanying adults in your group to do the same. 
• Pay attention to signage denoting no entry zones. 

Risk

Crush injuries 

Existing control measures at the museum 

• If relevant, museum staff will provide information on arrival of any construction work/vehicle movement taking place outside of designated construction zones. 
• Vehicles moving on site whilst the museum is open will be carried out in a controlled way with Museum staff in attendance and/or barriers in place. 
• Signage is in place stating where there is no pedestrian access due to moving vehicles. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You should: 

• Brief your group about any work happening on site. 
• Proactively supervise your group and remind other accompanying adults in your group to do the same. 

Risk

Illness ranging from mild to fatal 

Existing control measures at the museum 

• Ticketed admission is in place to manage the number of people arriving throughout the day. 
• Enhanced cleaning regimes are in place. 
• Screens are installed at all ticket desks and information points. 
• Hand sanitiser is located throughout the museum, including at key touch points and interactive galleries.  
• Museum staff are keeping up to date with government guidelines and reviewing control measures as required. 

Further action required by group leaders 

You must: 

• Pre-book your visit. 
• On the day, bring your confirmation email containing your QR code – this must be scanned upon admission into the museum. 
• Follow any government rules in place on self-isolation and social distancing at the time of your visit. 
• Adhere to any museum safety signage in place, including room capacities. 
• You should: 
• Encourage your group to sanitise/wash their hands regularly, especially before eating.  
• Visitors are welcome to wear facemasks around the museum.