CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Hot-Water Scalding Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. Applicability is conditional on hot water being supplied at points of use; independent schools are outside this resource's scope.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Use, inspection, maintenance and management of hot-water outlets and associated temperature-control arrangements in school premises, including identification of people and locations that may be exposed to scalding.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Hot water at a point of use may cause scalding to pupils, staff, visitors, contractors or other people who use or may come into contact with the outlet, particularly where the outlet, location or users require additional consideration.
- Existing controls
- Record only controls that are confirmed at the relevant school and outlet, such as outlet temperature controls, thermostatic mixing or other protective arrangements, warning information, supervision, inspection, maintenance and arrangements for reporting defects. Do not treat this register as evidence that any control is present, effective or completed.
- Proposed controls
- Identify all relevant hot-water outlets and the people and locations at risk. Measure and record the temperature at each applicable point of use using a suitable method, with the outlet, date, time, conditions and person recording the result documented. Confirm that suitable temperature-control arrangements are specified for the outlet and are in place and functioning effectively. Where a risk is identified, restrict access or use as appropriate, arrange competent investigation and corrective action, record the action owner and target date, and verify and document completion before normal use resumes where necessary. Review the assessment after changes to the hot-water system, outlet, location, users or control arrangements.
Local assessment and additional controls
A failed, incorrectly adjusted, damaged or poorly maintained temperature-control arrangement may allow hot water at a point of use to pose a scalding risk.
- Existing controls
- Record confirmed arrangements for inspection, testing, maintenance, defect reporting, isolation or restriction of affected outlets, and escalation of issues. The presence, frequency and effectiveness of these arrangements must be established locally and must not be assumed from this template.
- Proposed controls
- Define and document checks for relevant temperature-control arrangements and the associated points of use. Record findings, defects and actions separately from the control description. Establish a process for promptly addressing failed or ineffective controls, including temporary measures where appropriate. Retain evidence of investigation, repair, adjustment, retesting and review, without presuming that any of these activities has already occurred.
Local assessment and additional controls
People or locations requiring additional consideration may be missed when hot-water outlets, access arrangements, user groups or changes to the premises are not identified and reviewed.
- Existing controls
- Record confirmed arrangements for identifying outlets, user groups, access needs, higher-risk locations and changes affecting exposure. This resource does not assume that a school has completed this identification or review.
- Proposed controls
- Create and maintain an outlet and location register covering applicable areas. Identify the people who may be exposed, including pupils, staff, visitors and contractors, and record any relevant access, supervision or user considerations. Reassess when outlets, hot-water systems, rooms, activities, occupancy or user needs change. Link each identified issue to a documented corrective action and review outcome.
Local assessment and additional controls