BlueSafe
Childcare Safety Risk Assessment

Childcare Safety Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Childcare Safety Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Childcare Safety Risk Assessment through a structured, management-level review of your policies, systems, facilities and governance arrangements. This document supports executive Due Diligence, strengthens WHS risk management and helps demonstrate compliance with the WHS Act while reducing operational and legal liability across childcare and early learning services.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance & WHS Duties: Assessment of board, owner and management responsibilities, WHS duty of care, consultation arrangements and the integration of safety into organisational decision‑making.
  • Child Protection & Safeguarding Systems: Management of working-with-children clearances, access control, visitor management, custody issues and procedures for preventing and responding to abuse or neglect concerns.
  • Supervision & Behaviour Management Frameworks: Evaluation of supervision plans, staff-to-child ratios, behaviour guidance policies and escalation pathways for high‑risk behaviours.
  • Physical Environment & Facility Design: Assessment of building layout, indoor and outdoor play areas, security, fencing, fall zones, traffic interfaces and environmental hazards within the centre.
  • Infection Prevention & Hygiene Programs: Management of cleaning schedules, disinfection protocols, hand hygiene, exclusion policies and outbreak response for communicable diseases.
  • Hazardous Chemicals, Medication & Substances: Controls for storage, labelling and use of cleaning products, first aid chemicals, medications, nappy change products and other hazardous substances in childcare settings.
  • Staff Competency, Induction & Training Systems: Assessment of recruitment checks, qualifications, ongoing competency, induction processes and refresher training for childcare-specific WHS and child safety risks.
  • Incident Reporting & Continuous Improvement: Protocols for reporting, recording and investigating incidents, near misses and complaints, and using findings to drive corrective actions and system improvements.
  • Emergency Preparedness & Response Planning: Evaluation of emergency plans, drills, evacuation procedures, lockdowns, medical emergencies and communication with parents and emergency services.
  • Psychosocial Risks, Workload & Fatigue: Management of stress, exposure to traumatic events, workload, staffing levels, shift patterns and support mechanisms for educators and carers.
  • Maintenance, Equipment & Play Materials Safety: Systems for inspection, maintenance and replacement of playground equipment, toys, cots, furniture and other plant used by children and staff.
  • Food Safety, Nutrition & Allergy Management: Controls for menu planning, food handling, storage, allergen management, anaphylaxis risk and special dietary requirements.
  • Transport, Excursions & Off‑Site Activities: Assessment of vehicle safety, child restraint systems, headcounts, excursion risk planning, supervision and communication with families.
  • Information Management, Records & Communication: Governance of enrolment and medical records, confidentiality, information sharing, parent communication and retention of WHS documentation and evidence of compliance.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for childcare Business Owners, Approved Providers, Centre Directors and Safety Managers responsible for planning, governing and monitoring safe childcare and early learning operations.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, WHS Duties and Legal Compliance
  • • Failure to understand and discharge WHS due diligence obligations under WHS Act 2011 for childcare operations
  • • Absence of a documented WHS management system specific to early childhood and out‑of‑school‑hours care environments
  • • Inadequate integration of National Quality Framework (NQF), Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations with WHS requirements
  • • Lack of clear WHS roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for childcare managers, supervisors and educators
  • • Insufficient oversight of contractor and volunteer compliance with childcare WHS expectations
  • • Failure to consult, cooperate and coordinate with co‑located services (e.g. schools, clubs, community centres)
  • • No systematic review of WHS performance, incidents and regulatory changes affecting childcare safety
2. Child Protection, Safeguarding and Access Control
  • • Inadequate systems to prevent unauthorised access to children in rooms, playgrounds or club areas
  • • Deficient Working With Children Check (WWCC) and pre‑employment screening processes
  • • Lack of robust child sign‑in/sign‑out and custody verification systems
  • • Poorly controlled third‑party access in shared club or community facilities used for supervised children’s activities
  • • Inadequate policies for managing allegations of abuse, grooming or inappropriate conduct
  • • Failure to separate childcare areas from public zones in clubs or community venues
  • • Insufficient supervision system design for excursions and off‑site activities
3. Supervision Systems and Behaviour Management
  • • Inadequate supervision planning in rooms, playgrounds and club areas leading to unobserved children
  • • Over‑reliance on headcounts without zoning or line‑of‑sight strategies
  • • Inconsistent enforcement of educator‑to‑child ratios across different age groups and activity types
  • • Poor communication between educators during shift changes, breaks and transitions between activities
  • • Absence of a documented behaviour support and escalation framework for challenging behaviours
  • • Inadequate systems for supervising children’s activities in higher‑risk areas (e.g. club play zones, multi‑level indoor play, shared amenities)
  • • Fatigue or distraction in educators due to workload, noise and competing demands
4. Physical Environment and Facility Design
  • • Poor layout of rooms, including nursery rooms, limiting visibility and increasing trip, crush or entrapment hazards
  • • Insufficient segregation between children and vehicle traffic, deliveries or car parks
  • • Unsafe stairs, ramps, balconies or changes in floor levels without appropriate barriers
  • • Inadequate fencing or gate systems for outdoor play spaces or club‑based play areas
  • • Lack of child‑safe design in furniture, fixtures and storage (e.g. tip hazards, pinch points, unsecured shelving)
  • • Inadequate design for safe nappy change, sleep rooms and bottle preparation areas in nurseries
  • • Insufficient ventilation or temperature control in nursery rooms and enclosed play spaces
5. Infection Prevention, Cleaning and Disinfection Systems
  • • Inadequate cleaning and disinfection program for nursery rooms, including change areas, sleep spaces and high‑touch surfaces
  • • Inconsistent hand hygiene practices among staff and children
  • • Incorrect dilution, storage or application of disinfectants and cleaning chemicals
  • • Failure to isolate infectious children or manage communicable disease outbreaks
  • • Poor laundry and nappy disposal systems increasing biological exposure risks
  • • Inadequate infection control measures for shared equipment in club areas and during supervised children’s activities
  • • Insufficient training and supervision of cleaning contractors or in‑house cleaners
6. Hazardous Chemicals, Medication and Hazardous Substances
  • • Uncontrolled access by children to cleaning chemicals and disinfectants used in nursery and play areas
  • • Incorrect storage, labelling or decanting of chemicals leading to exposure or ingestion
  • • Inadequate systems for managing medication administration, storage and documentation
  • • Use of aerosols or strong disinfectants in poorly ventilated nursery rooms
  • • Lack of up‑to‑date safety data sheets (SDS) and risk assessments for hazardous substances
  • • Improper disposal of chemicals, sharps or contaminated materials
  • • Insufficient training in safe chemical handling and spill response
7. Staff Competency, Induction and Training Systems
  • • Inadequate induction of new or relief staff into childcare‑specific WHS risks and procedures
  • • Lapsed first aid, CPR and anaphylaxis/asthma management competencies
  • • Insufficient training in supervision of children in non‑standard environments such as clubs or community facilities
  • • Lack of competency verification for high‑risk tasks (e.g. food preparation, administering medication, using cleaning chemicals)
  • • Failure to provide regular refresher training on critical topics such as infection control in nursery rooms and emergency response
  • • Over‑reliance on informal, on‑the‑job learning without structured assessment
  • • Inadequate recordkeeping of training, licences and clearances
8. Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement
  • • Under‑reporting of incidents, near misses and behavioural events involving children or staff
  • • Lack of timely notification of notifiable incidents to the WHS regulator and other required authorities
  • • Inconsistent incident investigation quality, leading to missed systemic causes
  • • Failure to analyse trends across rooms, club programs and supervised activities
  • • Weak feedback loops, resulting in repeated incidents and no learning from near misses
  • • Insufficient communication of corrective actions to affected staff and parents where appropriate
9. Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • • Lack of tailored emergency plans for childcare settings, including nursery rooms and club‑based programs
  • • Inadequate evacuation procedures for non‑ambulant or sleeping infants
  • • Insufficient coordination with host venues (e.g. clubs, schools) on shared emergency arrangements
  • • Poorly marked or obstructed emergency exits and assembly areas
  • • Infrequent or poorly run evacuation, lockdown and medical emergency drills with children and staff
  • • Inadequate emergency communication systems for excursions and off‑site supervised children’s activities
10. Psychosocial Risks, Workload and Fatigue Management
  • • High workload, noise and emotional demands leading to educator fatigue and reduced supervision quality
  • • Exposure to challenging behaviours from children or difficult interactions with parents and carers
  • • Poorly managed shift patterns and breaks, especially during extended hours and club‑based programs
  • • Insufficient support for staff dealing with child protection disclosures or critical incidents
  • • Lack of consultation about work design, staffing levels and change processes
  • • Inadequate systems to address bullying, harassment or occupational violence from adults
11. Maintenance, Equipment Safety and Play Materials
  • • Lack of preventative maintenance for playground equipment, cots, change tables and furnishings
  • • Use of damaged or non‑compliant toys and play equipment in rooms and club areas
  • • Failure to remove or quarantine broken items promptly
  • • Inadequate inspection of sleep equipment in nursery rooms (e.g. loose parts, wrong mattress fit)
  • • Absence of documented pre‑use checks for high‑risk equipment such as indoor climbing frames or mobile cots
  • • Poor management of electrical equipment, cords and portable appliances in children’s areas
12. Food Safety, Nutrition and Allergy Management
  • • Inadequate food safety management system for onsite or externally supplied meals and snacks
  • • Cross‑contamination of allergens due to poor segregation and labelling practices
  • • Incorrect management of bottle preparation, storage and reheating in nursery rooms
  • • Inconsistent application of allergy and medical management plans during supervised activities and in club areas
  • • Insufficient monitoring of children with known dietary restrictions during busy meal or snack times
  • • Poor communication of menu and ingredient information to parents and staff
13. Transport, Excursions and Off‑Site Activities
  • • Inadequate planning and risk assessment for excursions and supervised children’s activities conducted off‑site or in club environments
  • • Poor systems for headcounts, roll checks and child location tracking during movement to and from venues
  • • Insufficient verification of third‑party transport provider safety and compliance
  • • Lack of emergency response arrangements for off‑site locations, including within large club or entertainment complexes
  • • Inadequate controls for water‑adjacent or high‑risk recreational activities
  • • Poor communication with parents about risks, consent and supervision arrangements for off‑site activities
14. Information Management, Records and Communication
  • • Incomplete or inaccurate child records for medical conditions, allergies, custody and emergency contacts
  • • Poor communication of critical information between shifts, rooms and sites (including club‑based programs)
  • • Failure to update and disseminate changes to policies, procedures and risk controls
  • • Inadequate protection of personal and sensitive information about children and families
  • • Lack of documented consent for photographs, excursions and specific activities
  • • Miscommunication with parents about incidents, illness, behavioural concerns or environmental risks

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations: Requirements for the health, safety and wellbeing of children in education and care services.
  • National Quality Framework (NQF) & National Quality Standard (NQS): Quality and safety benchmarks for early childhood education and care services.
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Guidance on safe workplaces, amenities and physical environments.
  • Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for systematic hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance relevant to playgrounds, elevated areas and fall hazards.
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for storage, handling and risk control of chemicals.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS/NZS 4685 (series): Playground equipment and surfacing safety requirements.
  • Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code: Requirements for food safety, allergen management and nutrition in food service.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

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