millom town council logo in header
Millom Town Council
Millom Town Council was formed in 1974 when the parish boundaries changed from Cumberland.

Risk Assesment – Re- Opening of Play Areas

Return To Policies Page

MILLOM TOWN COUNCIL

RE-OPENING OF PLAY EQUIPMENT – RISK ASSESSMENT

KEY PRINCIPLE GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ASSESSMENT CONCLUSION

General Maintenance Issues following Lockdown

Guideline: Ensure equipment is safe to use and that risks from damaged or defective equipment are addressed before opening.

  • Play Area to have its Annual Independent Inspection during the month of August 2020
  • Some repairs that had been due prior to COVID have been undertaken on 30 June 2020
  • Some issues were found and repaired
  • Annual inspection due August 2020 by ROSPA

Social Distancing

Guideline: Put in place measures to support social distancing – 2m or 1m plus risk mitigations

  • Limit number of users at any one time
  • Advisory Signage

A booking system is not practicable due to the size and budget and staff resource of the Town Council.

Advisory Signage will be installed asking parents of users to follow social distancing, and ask children to wait if a child is already on a piece of equipment.

Signage to be prepared regarding social distancing guidance, and use of the play-area in conjunction with the new COVID requirements.

Cleaning and Hygiene

Guideline: Clean high traffic touch points frequently. This includes:

  • All play equipment

It is not practicable for the Town Council to clean play equipment or the infrastructure in and around the play area due to budgetary and staff constraints.

Signage to be installed confirming that the play equipment is not washed/cleaned and those users should take responsibility for their use of hand sanitiser.

  • Seating Areas
  • Refuse bins

In addition, use signage to encourage:

  • Users to clean equipment before and after use
  • Use of hand sanitiser and frequent hand washing

Where practicable, provide hand sanitiser or hand washing facilities at entry and exit points.

The play area is sited in the open air and receives contact from all elements (e.g.: sunshine, rain etc) and it is recognised that the natural elements reduce the amount of time that the virus survives on surfaces.

Signage will be placed to encourage users to bring hand sanitiser with them for usage at the site and to encourage hand washing on their return to home.

Washing facilities are available to use in the adjacent toilet block.

Face Coverings

Guideline: If possible, a face covering should be worn in enclosed public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible and where the public may come into contact with people they do not normally meet. (Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3 or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly)

The Play-Area is in an enclosed public space.

Guidance on face coverings will be included in the signage installed on site.

Guidance on how many should enter the park will be included in the signage installed on site.

Additional Measures and Communicating with Parents

Guideline: Promote responsibility behaviour by children, parents, carers and guardians.

For example, owners and operators should consider putting up signs to make clear to users, parents, guardians and carers that:

  • Parents, guardians or carers should dispose of all litter including any used protective wear such as face coverings or gloves properly in litter bins, taking it home where a bin is not provided.

Signage will be installed requesting users to take all litter home, including any PPE used.

Litter bins are situated in the park areas.

Considering Children with Additional Needs

Guideline: Take into account the requirements of children with additional needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not altered the accessibility of the play area.

N/A

Keeping Staff Safe

Guideline: Consider the risks staff may be exposed to and how these can be mitigated. Staff roles may include:

  • Cleaning playground equipment/surrounding areas
  • Managing queues of those waiting to use equipment
  • Stewarding equipment to ensure users comply with rules made by the owner/operator

Millom Town Council only have one member of staff employed for part of a day, as noted above the Town Council are not able to offer staff resource to manning and cleaning the play area on a daily basis.

The volunteer Town Council member erecting the new signage will be advised to wear gloves whilst erecting the new signs, and to carry hand sanitiser with them, and to wash their hands on return to their office/home.

Conclusions:

New Signage to be erected at The Millom Town Council’s play area site, covering the matters discussed in the risk assessment above.

The risk assessment will be reviewed and retained following any future alteration to governmental regulations.

Risk Assessment undertaken by Assessment Clerk. Approved by a majority response from all councillors via email.

Dated: 03.07.2020

Millom Town Council Logo - Footer
Millom Town Council was formed in 1974 when the parish boundaries changed from Cumberland.
01229 772340 theclerk@millomtowncouncil.co.uk 6 Newton St, Millom, LA18 4DR
Civility and respect pledge council logo

© Millom Town Council. All rights reserved 

Upcoming Meeting Dates

2025

APRIL 30TH: Methodist Church meeting room
MAY 28TH: Methodist Church meeting room
JUNE 25TH: Methodist Church meeting room
JULY 30TH: Methodist Church meeting room

All meetings will commence at 07.00pm unless otherwise stated on
the agenda.