D&T, Food Technology and Art Risk Assessments
Starter risk assessments for practical lessons: the D&T workshop, food technology and art. Pick the subject from the template list, then add your room, machines and recipes.
Starting points – Check every row against your school's policy and the venue's own risk assessment, and add what is specific to your group.
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This supports, but does not replace, your school's or employer's policy. The visit leader, EVC or head teacher must check and approve it.
Design and technology
In the workshop, the big risks are machines and hand tools. Most departments train pupils on each machine and keep a record before they use it unsupervised, keep guards and emergency stops working, and set rules on aprons, hair and eye protection. CLEAPSS provides model risk assessments for D&T to member schools; check your department's versions first.
Food technology
Choose "Food technology" in the template list. The hazard that needs most care is allergies: check allergy information (by initials) before you choose recipes, tell families what pupils will cook, and know where adrenaline auto-injectors are kept. Then knives, hot ovens and hobs, food hygiene and slips.
Art
Choose "Art (tools, kilns, solvents)". Craft knives and lino cutters cause the most injuries; kilns, spray fixatives and solvents need good ventilation and staff-only use. Choose water-based and low-hazard materials where you can.
Before
- Check the department's model assessment for the activity
- Check machines, tools and extraction
- Check allergies and needs (by initials)
- Brief the technician or TA
On the day
- Safety demonstration first
- Aprons, eye protection, hair tied back
- Count tools out and in
Afterwards
- Report accidents and near misses
- Note what to change next time
Keep pupils' details out of it
Write "Pupil A" or initials, and say where the confidential plan is kept ("held by the visit leader"). Names, medical details and contact numbers belong in the school's own system, not in a risk assessment that gets printed, emailed and left on a coach seat. Everything you type here stays in this browser.
Sources and further reading
- CLEAPSS
- HSE: risk assessment – steps needed to manage risk
- DfE: Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions
We link to these so you can read the original guidance; we haven't copied it. Check for updates, and follow your school's or local authority's own policy where it says more.
Questions teachers ask
What should a food technology risk assessment include?
Allergies and intolerances, knives, hot ovens and hobs, food hygiene, slips on wet floors and how food is stored and taken home. Allergies need the most care.
Do pupils need training before using workshop machines?
Most schools train and record pupils on each machine before they use it, with the teacher in sight of the machines. Follow your department's rules.
Are kilns safe in schools?
Yes when only trained staff load, fire and unload them, the kiln room is locked during firing and signs are in place.