Allotments 6 - Risk Assessment

In all manner of business "risk assessment" is a common buzz term which is a bit like "health and safety". This post ponders on the the allotment site manager's approach to risk assessment in the the yearly cycle of events.
My interest was triggered by a report in the Sunday Times that some of London's London planes (trees not aircraft) have a fungus. It seems there may be some risk of branches breaking and falling out of the trees' canopies! Nowadays London tends to give me a sore head but not from falling branches!

As winter approaches the site manager might like to consider the likes of:

•  inspections for an assessment of risks;
• a plan to avoid or mitigate events likely to cause injury or damage;
• the extent to which insurances should be takewn or changed;
• etc.

Beating the Bounds:
A check of the boundary may reveal evidence of wind or weather damage, unauthorised access, damage by animals, adverse possession (unlikely), etc.  Any finds should result in a plan to deal with the problems promptly - covering:

• repairs to the fence or walls;
• a longer term maintenance plan;
• a letter to any person in unauthorised possession;
• etc.

Walking the Baulks and Ways:
A visual check from the baulks and ways will show problems caused by nature and the allotmenteers - including:

• hanging or fallen branches, ie trees which are on-site or off-site;
• damaged surfaces of baulks or ways;
• fallen or overhanging obstructions from gardening operations by members;
• damaged piped-water pipes;
• overgrown allotments;
• excessive weeds about to shed seeds;
• accumulations of rubbish;
• etc.

Actions required might include: a) a bonfire to get rid of waste timber (keep the ash as fertiliser); b) a skip or trips to the recycling centre to be rid of metals and other recyclables; c) polite letters to members holding problem plots; d) the bulk purchase of water butts, compost bins; e) the purchase of a strimmer and lawn mower,  f) etc. 

Policy Perambulation:

An initial or later annual walk around the policy etc documents of the allotment association (or council's documents and files) will give insight into the need for change. The documents are likely to include the following:

• the abstracts of the Conveyance deeds and/ or Agreement documents;
• the Constitution of any representative association of the allotmenteers;
• management policy as shown by / in standing orders and other policy documents
• any insurance policies;
• etc.

Hopefully no issues will arise but incidents in the recent past may require policy to be changed.