Explain how a risk assessment is carried out and describe measures that prevent injury in sport and physical activity

What this dot point is asking

SEAB wants you to explain how a risk assessment is carried out and describe measures that prevent injury in sport. The central idea is that most injuries are preventable: by spotting hazards in advance and putting controls in place, and by following sensible safety measures, the chance of harm is greatly reduced.

The answer

What a risk assessment is

A risk assessment is a careful check of an activity, beforehand, to identify anything that could cause harm and to put measures in place to reduce the risk. A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm (a wet floor); the risk is how likely and how serious that harm is.

Carrying out a risk assessment

A risk assessment follows clear steps.

1. Identify the hazards: look for anything that could cause harm, such as a wet or uneven surface, broken or unsuitable equipment, hard ground, or other participants.
2. Decide who might be harmed and how: consider the participants, officials and spectators.
3. Evaluate the risk and decide on controls: judge how likely and how serious the harm is, then choose control measures to reduce it (dry the floor, replace equipment, pad the posts, change the activity).
4. Record the findings and act on them: note the hazards and the measures, and put them in place.
5. Review and update regularly: repeat the assessment as conditions change.

Measures that prevent injury

Many measures reduce injury risk in sport:

• protective equipment (mouthguard, shin pads, helmet, correct footwear);
• proper preparation (a warm-up before and a cool-down after, and training within your fitness level);
• following the rules and using correct technique (a legal, safe tackle), with officials enforcing the rules;
• a safe environment (a checked surface and equipment, padded posts);
• matching participants by age, size and ability so contests are fair.

Examples in context

Example 1. A PE teacher before a gymnastics lesson. The teacher checks the mats are in place and undamaged, the apparatus is secure, and the floor is clear, then ensures a proper warm-up. By identifying and controlling these hazards in advance, the most likely injuries (falls onto a hard or uncovered surface) are prevented before the lesson begins.

Example 2. A rugby club on match day. Officials check the posts are padded and the pitch is safe, players wear mouthguards and correct boots, teams are matched by age and size, and the referee enforces the laws on dangerous tackles. These combined measures show prevention working alongside the risk assessment to keep a contact sport as safe as possible.

Try this

• Cue. Define a hazard and a risk and give an example of each. (A hazard is something that could cause harm, such as a wet floor; the risk is the likelihood and seriousness of the harm, such as a high chance of a slip injury.)

• Cue. List the main steps of a risk assessment. (Identify the hazards; decide who is at risk and how; evaluate the risk and decide on controls; record and act on the findings; review regularly.)

• Cue. Describe four measures to prevent injury in a contact sport. (Wear protective equipment; warm up and cool down; follow the rules and use correct technique; check the surface and equipment are safe and match players by size and ability.)