Mercury Travel · Form
Activity Risk Hazard Register
Date: 18 December 2025. Prepared by Mark Abraham (Technical Advisor). Review frequency: annual or after an incident/near-miss.
Risk assessment methodology
- Likelihood: Rare / Unlikely / Possible / Likely / Almost Certain.
- Consequence: Minor / Moderate / Major / Severe / Catastrophic.
- Initial risk: High / Medium / Low (before controls). Residual risk: after controls applied.
- Best practice policy — hierarchy of controls applied (eliminate > substitute > isolate > engineer > administer > PPE).
- All activities are low-adventure, guided and on established routes.
Activity hazard register
Tick each activity hazard once controls have been confirmed in place.
Initial likelihood: Unlikely
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Qualified operator, life jackets compulsory, “hold on tight” brief, no loose items/phones, seasickness tablets offered, cancel if river unsafe
Elimination / substitution considered: Activity retained — inherent thrill element of tour, but residual risk reduced to acceptable Low through strict controls and cancellation criteria
Initial likelihood: Possible
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Spray jackets, cold shock brief, heated ponchos available
Elimination / substitution considered: No elimination required — hazard effectively managed through administrative and PPE controls
Initial likelihood: Unlikely
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Life jackets, grip handles, experienced driver brief, cancel if flow >400 cumecs
Elimination / substitution considered: Activity retained — core tour experience with residual risk Low via operator selection and flow monitoring
Initial likelihood: Possible
Residual risk: Medium
Controls (must be followed): Stay on marked boardwalks only, guide front & rear, “hot ground” briefing, no leaning over rails
Elimination / substitution considered: No substitution available — geothermal viewing is a key attraction; residual Medium acceptable with strict adherence to boardwalk rules and supervision
Initial likelihood: Unlikely
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Fenced/barriered areas, constant supervision
Elimination / substitution considered: No elimination required — physical barriers and supervision effectively control the hazard
Initial likelihood: Unlikely
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Fenced paths only, guided route, head counts at stops
Elimination / substitution considered: No elimination required — robust fencing and guided format reduce risk to Low
Initial likelihood: Possible
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Helmets & lights, non-slip shoes advised, guide assistance
Elimination / substitution considered: No substitution needed — standard cave safety equipment and guiding make residual Low
Initial likelihood: Unlikely
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Life jackets, small groups, guide rows only
Elimination / substitution considered: No elimination required — PPE and small group sizes control the hazard effectively
Initial likelihood: Unlikely
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Max group size, no running, hand-holding for children, cancel in high wind (>30 km/h)
Elimination / substitution considered: Activity retained — elevated walk is a unique experience; wind cancellation and group rules keep residual Low
Initial likelihood: Possible
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Helmets compulsory, mandatory brake lesson, separate tracks, guide supervises from rear
Elimination / substitution considered: Activity retained — popular family attraction; comprehensive training and supervision reduce risk to Low
Initial likelihood: Possible
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Life jackets, stay seated, tablets offered, cancel if swell >1.5 m
Elimination / substitution considered: No elimination required — sea state monitoring and cancellation threshold manage residual effectively
Initial likelihood: Possible
Residual risk: Low
Controls (must be followed): Marked path only, platform viewing, guide briefing
Elimination / substitution considered: No substitution needed — platform viewing eliminates direct exposure while preserving the wildlife experience
Golden rules for all activities (mandatory)
Residual risk summary
All residual risks are Low to Medium — acceptable for low-adventure tours. No unnecessary serious risks remain.
Reviewed & approved: Mark Abraham (Technical Advisor) — 18 December 2025.
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