RISK ASSESSMENT

 

Below is a risk assessment for Graham Benson performing as Fuzzy or Seymour. The Assessment was compiled by Graham Benson and last updated on 17 May 2004. Any routines involving danger the volunteers must be over eighteen years of age.
Task: the routine covered in this section
Possible Injury: are the worst injuries that are realistically possible.
Chance: is the likelihood of any injury happening to the public.
Solution: Is how to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury.

Task Juggling safe objets i.e. Hedgehogs (stuffed toy ones), balls, clubs, eggs, scarves.
Possible Injury bruising if hit with a club Chance slight.
Solution If anyone is too close I stop juggling and ask them to step back.

Task Roller Bowla (A roller bowla is a plank balanced on a tube).
Possible Injury Cuts, bruising if hit by the plank. Chance Slight
Solution If someone is standing too close especially to the sides I ask them to move back, otherwise I stop using the roller bowla.

Task Juggling Dangerous Objects i.e. knifes, axe, baseball bat.
Possible Injury Cuts, bruising if hit. Chance Slight
Solution Keep the audience at least seven feet from me when juggling.

Task Juggling Fire.
Possible Injury Burns to audience and property, death. Chance Slight
Solution The audience must be kept at least seven feet away from me while juggling and the perpetration area. The preparation area is where I put paraffin onto the clubs and shake off any excess. The ground or flooring must be non flammable preferably grass or stone. I recommend doing this outdoors, however it may be done inside if fuller safety measures are taken. A fire marshal with an extinguisher, blanket, sand bucket is on stand by. I reserve the right to not perform with fire if I feel it is unsafe to do so.

Task Walk of Death (two people lie down on the ground I then walk over them juggling knives)
Possible Injury bruising, loosing an eye. Chance Slight.
Solution When you drop a knife you tend to drop to the sides and do not hit the people on the ground.

Task Stilt Walking
Possible Injury Falling or being pushed on top of someone. Chance Slight
Solution I have not fallen to date. If I feel unsafe either due to the ground conditions (too wet, uneven, obstacles) or the audience (drunks, loutish behaviour) then I do not stilt walk.

Task Whip cracking
Possible Injury Cuts, bruising, eye injury, ear problems. Chance possible
Solution Whip cracking comes in two types: free style and target. Free style has no audience participation, as long as they are kept well back there is little danger to them. Minimum safety distance is whip length times three radius from centre of performing area. I normally use an eight-foot and six-foot whip but also have a 12-foot whip. Target Whipping: with static targets safety is as with free style. Held targets: Minimum safety equipment to be worn by members of the public holding targets. Target held in outstretched hands: gloves, long sleeves. Targets held between the legs: legs fully covered. Target held out in front of the volunteer: gloves jacket buttoned or zipped up, goggles.

Task Unicycle
Possible Injury cuts, bruising. Chance Slight
Solution Falling on top of someone or someone being hit by the unicycle is a possibility. I would attempt to dismount before I hit them.

Task Penny-farthing
Possible Injury bruising, broken bone.Chance Slight
Solution I could hit someone while riding it or a child may fall off while I am pushing them on it. I hold the younger kids on or have the parents walking alongside. Parents consent is given before I place a child on the penny-farthing. I do not allow adults on the bike, as I can not catch them if they fall.

Task Mini Bike Jump
Possible Injury bruising. Chance Slight
Solution If I do not jump clean over them there is a possibility I may land on them. Only done with adults.