CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Portable Heating Equipment Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England using or considering portable heating equipment. Applicability remains conditional on the school using or considering such equipment.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Selecting, bringing into use, positioning, operating, inspecting, monitoring, isolating and removing portable heating equipment in school premises. This assessment is to be completed before such equipment is used and adapted to the specific equipment, location, users and circumstances.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Fire arising from portable heating equipment, including ignition of nearby combustible materials, unsafe positioning, overheating, misuse, damage or failure of the equipment.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are provided. Record and verify any controls already in place before relying on them.
- Proposed controls
- Complete and record a task- and location-specific assessment before use. Restrict use to equipment approved through the school's arrangements. Confirm that the equipment is suitable for the intended location and use, is positioned on a stable surface with adequate clearance from combustible materials, furnishings, curtains, paper, clothing and escape routes, and is not covered or obstructed. Keep access to controls and means of isolation available. Prevent unauthorised or unsupervised use where the assessment identifies a risk. Establish inspection and maintenance arrangements appropriate to the equipment and its use. Define criteria for immediate removal from service, including visible damage, overheating, burning smells, abnormal noise, damaged leads or plugs, evidence of misuse, instability or any other suspected defect. Isolate or unplug defective or unsafe equipment where safe to do so, prevent further use, label or otherwise identify it, and arrange competent examination, repair or disposal. Ensure relevant staff and other users receive instructions on safe use, prohibited actions and reporting defects. Consider how an alarm, evacuation or other emergency would be managed while the equipment is in use.
Local assessment and additional controls
Burn injury from contact with hot surfaces, heated air or radiant heat, or from touching, moving or knocking over portable heating equipment.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are provided. Record and verify any controls already in place before relying on them.
- Proposed controls
- Identify who could come into contact with the equipment, including pupils, staff, visitors and anyone requiring additional support. Select equipment and locations that minimise access to hot surfaces and prevent accidental contact, tipping or interference. Keep the equipment away from walkways, doorways, circulation routes and areas where pupils may gather or play. Do not allow equipment to be moved while hot unless a safe method has been assessed. Provide clear instructions and supervision arrangements appropriate to the users and location. Keep leads positioned to avoid trips and pulling the equipment over. Define removal or isolation criteria for unstable, damaged, excessively hot or otherwise unsafe equipment. Record reported contact incidents, near misses and defects, and review the assessment when circumstances or equipment change.
Local assessment and additional controls
Electrical overload, overheating, electric shock or fire caused by the portable heating equipment, its plug or lead, unsuitable extension arrangements, damaged components or the combined demand on an electrical circuit.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are provided. Record and verify any controls already in place before relying on them.
- Proposed controls
- Before use, identify the electrical supply and other equipment connected to the relevant circuit or distribution arrangement. Obtain sufficient information about the heater's electrical demand and consider the combined load before connection. Do not use arrangements that are unsuitable for the equipment or that could overload the supply. Avoid unnecessary extension leads, adaptors and multi-way arrangements; where any such arrangement is proposed, assess its suitability and condition before use. Check plugs, leads, casings and controls for visible damage, overheating, loose parts or other defects before each use. Keep leads away from heat, water, sharp edges, walkways and locations where they may be trapped or damaged. Do not use equipment with a damaged lead, plug, casing or other suspected electrical defect. Establish inspection, testing, maintenance and record-keeping arrangements appropriate to the equipment and its use, using competent persons where required. Isolate and remove equipment from service following signs of electrical overheating, repeated tripping, arcing, shock, damage or other suspected fault.
Local assessment and additional controls
Use of unsuitable, unauthorised, damaged or poorly maintained portable heating equipment, or use in a location or circumstance not covered by the assessment.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific equipment approval, restriction, inspection or maintenance arrangements are provided. Confirm what arrangements exist before relying on them.
- Proposed controls
- Maintain a register of portable heating equipment proposed for use, including an identifiable description, intended location, responsible person and inspection status where applicable. Define which equipment types, conditions of use and locations are permitted or prohibited by the school's arrangements. Confirm that each proposed item is suitable for its intended environment and foreseeable users. Do not introduce privately owned, unidentified, modified or damaged equipment without the required review and approval. Reassess before use when equipment, location, electrical supply, occupancy, supervision, users or operating conditions change. Remove or isolate equipment that is not approved, cannot be safely positioned, has an unknown condition or falls outside the assessed circumstances.
Local assessment and additional controls
Failure to identify or respond to unsafe conditions, defects, overheating, misuse, near misses or changing circumstances while portable heating equipment is available for use.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific monitoring, reporting, emergency response or review arrangements are provided. Record and verify any arrangements already in place.
- Proposed controls
- Assign responsibility for authorising use, checking condition, monitoring operation and reviewing reported concerns. Provide a route for staff and other users to report defects, burns, shocks, overheating, smells, trips, near misses and other concerns. Define when equipment must be switched off, unplugged or isolated, taking account of the safe circumstances for doing so. Make arrangements for summoning assistance and following the school's emergency procedures if there is smoke, fire, injury, electric shock or an immediate danger. Prevent re-use until the equipment and circumstances have been reviewed and it is confirmed that use may resume. Review this register after an incident, near miss, defect, change of equipment or location, or any other change that may affect the identified risks.
Local assessment and additional controls