Hazard & Risk

Define Hazard

A hazard is any source of potential danger, damage or adverse health effect to humans e.g. an area of open water or a steep slope, plants with thorns. A hazard is something which is identified as being potentially dangerous or which can cause harm to humans .

State hazards associated with Access

A pathway under trees which is dark is a potential hazard and trips, slips and falls are risks. Designing a new route for the path away from trees would be a suitable method of risk reduction.

Define Risk

A risk is the chance or probability/likelihood that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard. A risk is normally categorised as high, medium or low together with the outcome e.g. the high likelihood of someone slipping on a steep grass slope and falling resulting in bruises or possible broken bones. A risk is an identified specific danger which could arise from a hazard

State hazards associated with the location of a flight of garden steps. Design solutions which reduce the risks associated with a flight of garden steps.

Candidates who linked the location of the steps to a hazard e.g. steps located under trees where wet leaves or shade could cause a slip hazard and long flights of steps on steep slopes unbroken by landings were awarded full marks. Suitable design solutions included steps with hand rails, the specification of non-slip materials, contouring the steps on steep slopes, appropriate treads and risers according to the steepness of the slope and avoiding placing steps under trees.

State the hazards associated with wooden decking under a low growing tree & how to minimise the risks.

Could become slippery due to a build-up of wet leaves or algae. The low growing branches could also be a hazard to those using the decked area. The use of anti-slip surfaces e.g. grooved boards, pressure washing or scrubbing the surface, applying anti-slip treatments and removing or reducing the tree cover will minimise the risks.

State the hazards associated with old trees

Old trees - falling rotten branches, the whole tree toppling over and general debris on the ground.

Plant hazards

Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii Digitalis purpurea Laburnum x watererii 'Vossii" sap if broken - damage to skin/eyes,

State the hazards associated with Overhead Power Cables

Overhead power cables - may be high voltage and low cables becoming entangled with machinery, plants or long planks.

State the hazards associated with ponds & water in the garden

Ponds - steep banks or slippery slopes, the water itself (drowning of children) and stagnant water diseases. . a water feature or a fountain, the hazard itself e.g. slipping or falling into the pond and the consequence of injury, electrocution or drowning

How to minimise the risks associated with plant hazards at the design stage.

The placing of plants with sharp thorns or irritant sap away from paths or areas used by children, not using plants that are a hazard e.g. plants with irritant sap and placing deciduous trees whose leaves could be hazardous in the autumn when they fall on paths and seating areas in more appropriate locations within a garden.

State the hazards associated with a steeply sloping garden & how to minimise the risks.

The slope is the hazard which can cause harm to pedestrians. The risk is that pedestrians will slip down the slope and incur injury which could be grazes or broken bones etc. The solution is to divide the area into horizontal layers incorporating retaining walls and access, using winding paths with shallow gradients, the installation of handrails for steps and steeper parts of sloping paths to increase safety and the use of non-slip surfaces on steps and paths.

State the hazards associated with underground cables & how to minimise the risk at the design stage.

Underground cables - danger when excavating by hand or machine for construction or planting or cables fouling machines.; Ensuring the line and depth of both new and existing cable is clearly and accurately marked on plans, specify realignment or deeper burial of cables, designing around the cables i.e. avoid the need for excavations or deep planting pits over or adjacent to the cables.

State the hazards associated with unsafe bridge over a watercourse

Unsafe bridge over a watercourse - rotten or missing planks, slippery surface and broken handrail.

State the hazards associated with Unsafe Buildings

Unsafe buildings - falling masonry, loose roof tiles and broken glass.

How to minimise the risks associated with wood for decking or walkways at the design stage.

• specifying the use of prepared and treated timber to avoid splinters, • specifying correct construction methods to avoid slip and trip hazards e.g. no raised edges and the grooved boards to be laid across the main direction of travel, • avoiding the design of a wooden decking area underneath deciduous trees to avoid slipping on leaves, • specifying that the decking was non-slip.