Below is a RAMS document for planters in parks and public areas, covering delivery, positioning, filling, planting, watering, maintenance and public safety.

Installation, Planting and Maintenance of Whisky Barrel Planters

1. Scope of work

This RAMS covers the safe installation and ongoing maintenance of whisky barrel planters placed around Corstorphine as part of Corstorphine in Bloom.

The work may include:

receiving whisky barrel planters
moving planters short distances into position
checking the site and ground surface
filling planters with compost or soil
adding plants
watering
weeding and maintenance
removing waste, packaging or surplus soil
keeping paths and public areas safe during work

This RAMS does not cover work on live roads, work requiring excavation, work at height, electrical work, use of powered machinery, or any activity requiring formal traffic management.

2. People involved

The activity may involve:

Corstorphine in Bloom volunteers
Friends of local parks groups
Council officers or contractors
members of the public passing through the park
children and families using the park
dog walkers
cyclists or mobility scooter users where paths are nearby

Children may help with suitable low-risk planting tasks only when supervised by a parent, carer or responsible adult.

3. Key principles

All volunteers should:

only do work they feel comfortable doing
stop if something appears unsafe
ask for help with heavy or awkward tasks
wear suitable footwear and gloves
keep paths clear
avoid obstructing the public
report hazards, accidents or near misses to the organiser

No task is urgent enough to justify someone getting hurt.

PART A: RISK ASSESSMENT

4. Risk rating guide

Likelihood

Low – unlikely to happen
Medium – could happen
High – likely to happen

Severity

Low – minor injury or inconvenience
Medium – injury requiring first aid or medical attention
High – serious injury

Risk rating

Risk rating = Likelihood x Severity

1–2 = Low
3–4 = Medium
6–9 = High

High risks must be reduced before work begins.

5. Risk assessment table

Hazard	Who may be harmed	Initial risk	Control measures	Residual risk
Heavy or awkward lifting of whisky barrel planters	Volunteers	High	Avoid lifting full barrels. Move barrels empty wherever possible. Use two or more people for moving. Use trolley/barrow if available. Do not drag or roll barrels where this may cause loss of control. Volunteers must not lift beyond their capability.	Medium
Lifting bags of compost, soil, plants or water containers	Volunteers	Medium	Use smaller bags or split loads where possible. Use wheelbarrow/trolley. Team lift heavy items. Keep loads close to body. Avoid twisting. Make several smaller trips.	Low/Medium
Slips, trips and falls	Volunteers and public	Medium	Check work area before starting. Keep tools, bags, plants and waste off paths. Avoid trailing hoses across paths. Take care on wet grass, slopes, mud, leaves and uneven ground. Stop work in unsafe weather or poor ground conditions.	Low
Tools causing cuts, punctures or impact injuries	Volunteers, children, public	Medium	Use appropriate hand tools only. Carry tools safely with points down. Do not leave tools lying on paths or grass. Keep tools away from children. Do not use damaged tools.	Low
Sharp objects, broken glass, litter or contaminated material	Volunteers	Medium	Wear gloves. Use litter pickers where available. Do not pick up needles, dog mess, chemicals or unknown substances. Report hazardous items to organiser or Council.	Low
Soil, compost, splinters or biological material causing irritation or infection	Volunteers	Medium	Wear gardening gloves. Cover cuts. Wash hands after work and before eating or drinking. Avoid touching face while handling soil. Seek advice if a cut becomes infected.	Low
Barrel instability, tipping or rolling	Public, children, volunteers	High	Position barrels on firm, level ground. Do not place on steep slopes or unstable ground. Ensure barrels are stable before filling. Once filled, check they cannot easily roll or tip. Do not allow children to climb or sit on barrels.	Low/Medium
Obstruction of paths, entrances or desire lines	Public, wheelchair users, prams, cyclists	Medium	Position barrels away from main walking lines unless agreed. Maintain clear access for wheelchairs, prams, mobility scooters and maintenance vehicles. Do not block gates, benches, bins, signs or emergency access.	Low
Working near park paths, cycle routes or vehicle access points	Volunteers and public	Medium	Work from safe areas only. Be aware of cyclists, maintenance vehicles and pedestrians. Use hi-viz where the work area is close to paths, entrances or vehicle routes. Keep tools and materials contained.	Low
Weather: heat, cold, wind, rain or poor visibility	Volunteers	Medium	Check weather before session. Wear suitable clothing. Bring water. Take breaks. Use sun cream and hats in hot weather. Stop if high winds, lightning, heavy rain, icy conditions or poor visibility make work unsafe.	Low
Public interaction, dogs or children entering work area	Volunteers and public	Medium	Keep the work area tidy and visible. Pause work if the public come too close. Be friendly but do not allow unsupervised children to use tools. Keep compost, tools and plants away from dogs and children.	Low
Allergic reactions to plants, compost or stings	Volunteers	Medium	Volunteers should avoid plants they know they react to. Wear gloves and long sleeves if sensitive. First aid kit should be available. Call 999 for severe allergic reaction.	Low
Watering hazards, heavy containers or wet paths	Volunteers and public	Medium	Use manageable containers. Avoid spilling water on paths. Do not leave hoses across walkways. Coil hoses away after use. Take care on wet surfaces.	Low
Lone working	Volunteers	Medium	Avoid lone working for installation and heavy tasks. Maintenance should normally be done in pairs or groups. If working alone, carry a mobile phone, tell someone where you are, and avoid lifting, roadside work or higher-risk tasks.	Low/Medium
Manual handling by older volunteers or volunteers with health conditions	Volunteers	Medium	All tasks are voluntary. No one should be pressured to lift, kneel, dig or carry. Offer lighter tasks such as planting, watering small containers, or greeting volunteers.	Low
Vehicle delivery of barrels, compost or plants	Volunteers and public	High	Delivery vehicles should use agreed access points only. Keep volunteers and public away from reversing vehicles. Do not unload unless safe to do so. Use banksman/helper if necessary. Follow Council or supplier instructions.	Medium
Waste and packaging left on site	Public, wildlife	Medium	Remove packaging, plastic, cable ties and surplus materials at the end of the session. Dispose of waste responsibly. Leave the site tidy and safe.	Low

6. Personal protective equipment

The following PPE is recommended:

gardening gloves
sturdy shoes or boots
weather-appropriate clothing
hi-viz vest where working near paths, entrances, traffic, cycles or vehicle access
kneeling pad or knee protection where useful
sun hat and sun cream in hot weather
waterproofs in wet weather

8. Environmental considerations

Volunteers should:

avoid damaging existing plants, trees, bulbs or wildlife habitats
avoid placing soil or compost into drains or watercourses
keep plastic packaging and plant labels out of the park
use peat-free compost where possible
consider pollinator-friendly and drought-tolerant planting
water sensibly and avoid waste

PART B: METHOD STATEMENT

9. Pre-start checks

Before work begins, the organiser should:

confirm the location of the planters
check that permission has been agreed where required
inspect the ground for slopes, holes, soft ground, broken glass or trip hazards
check that paths and access routes will remain clear
check weather conditions
identify where tools, compost, plants and waste will be placed
brief volunteers on the work and safety points
confirm that volunteers know they can stop or decline tasks

10. Delivery and unloading

Where barrels, compost or plants are delivered:

Delivery should use an agreed safe access point.
Volunteers should stay clear of moving vehicles.
Nobody should stand behind a reversing vehicle.
Barrels should be unloaded by the supplier or by competent people using suitable equipment.
Empty barrels should be moved before filling.
Full barrels should not be manually lifted.
Materials should be placed away from paths and public routes.

11. Positioning the whisky barrel planters

Check that the selected area is level, firm and suitable.
Make sure the planter will not block paths, entrances, benches, bins or emergency access.
Move barrels empty wherever possible.
Use two or more people if the barrel needs to be lifted or shifted.
Use a trolley, sack barrow or wheelbarrow if available.
Do not roll a barrel where it could run away or hit someone.
Once positioned, check that the barrel is stable and does not rock, roll or tip.
If the location is unsuitable, stop and choose another agreed location.

12. Filling the planters

Place compost and soil bags close to the planter to avoid unnecessary carrying.
Use smaller loads where possible.
Cut bags carefully using suitable hand tools.
Volunteers should avoid overfilling buckets or containers.
Fill gradually and check stability as the weight increases.
Keep the surrounding area clear of spilled compost.
Do not leave empty bags or tools where people may trip.

13. Planting

Volunteers should wear gloves.
Use hand tools suitable for the task.
Keep tools within the work area and away from paths.
Children may help only with safe planting tasks and adult supervision.
Avoid thorny, poisonous or strongly irritant plants in areas likely to be used by children.
Place plants securely and water them in.
Remove loose trays, labels, pots and packaging.

14. Watering

Use manageable watering cans or containers.
Avoid carrying heavy water loads long distances.
Do not leave hoses trailing across paths.
Take care on wet or slippery surfaces.
Avoid creating puddles on paths.
Coil hoses and store equipment safely after use.

15. Ongoing maintenance

Maintenance may include weeding, deadheading, watering and replacing plants.

Volunteers should:

wear gloves
work in pairs or groups where possible
keep tools off paths
avoid heavy lifting alone
report damage, instability, vandalism or unsafe conditions
stop if the weather or ground conditions become unsafe
leave the area tidy after each visit

If a barrel becomes unstable, damaged or unsafe, volunteers should not attempt major repairs unless agreed. The issue should be reported to the organiser and, where appropriate, the Council.

16. End-of-session check

At the end of each session, the organiser or nominated volunteer should check that:

all tools have been collected
paths are clear
no bags, pots, ties or plastic waste remain
the barrel is stable
no sharp objects or trip hazards have been left
any incidents or concerns have been recorded
volunteers have safely left the site

17. Volunteer briefing checklist

Before each organised session, the organiser should remind volunteers:

Wear gloves and sturdy footwear.
Only do tasks you feel comfortable doing.
Ask for help with heavy items.
Keep tools and materials away from paths.
Watch out for pedestrians, cyclists, children and dogs.
Wear hi-viz near paths, entrances or vehicle access points.
Do not pick up needles, chemicals, dog mess or unknown items.
Stop if something seems unsafe.
Report accidents, hazards or near misses to Corstorphine in Bloom
In an emergency, call 999.

18. Exclusions

The following are not covered by this RAMS and require separate agreement or assessment:

work on live roads
traffic management
excavation or digging into unknown ground
use of power tools
chainsaws, strimmers or machinery
working at height
moving very heavy planters once filled
installation requiring fixings, anchoring or construction work

Summary

This activity is low to medium risk when properly organised. The main risks are manual handling, trips, public interaction, planter stability and working near paths or vehicle access points. These risks can be controlled by keeping barrels empty while moving them, using team lifting, keeping public routes clear, wearing gloves and hi-viz where needed, and stopping work if conditions become unsafe.

Core message:
Please only do work you feel comfortable with. If in doubt, stop and ask.

You may want to add a simple site-specific appendix for each park showing exact planter positions, especially where barrels are close to paths, entrances, play areas or maintenance vehicle routes.