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Caving & Potholing Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your trip — cave system, group size, trip grade and whether it involves vertical pitches. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant caving risk assessment covering rigging, flooding and cold exposure, in minutes.
Used by university caving clubs, BCA-affiliated groups and outdoor centres across the UK
⛏️ Running a club or university trip? Mention the cave system, trip grade and whether it involves vertical pitches, and we'll build a single assessment covering rigging, flooding and first aid provision — not just a generic underground warning.
Legal requirements for organised caving trips
The British Caving Association (BCA) sets guidelines on maximum party sizes and minimum first aid requirements by trip grade, and its public liability insurance — a key membership benefit for affiliated clubs — is conditional on members following recognised caving practice. Instructors leading trips must hold the relevant BCA award for the grade of trip being undertaken.
Vertical pitches must be rigged using sit harnesses and suitable cowstails with appropriate karabiners, with direct belay systems used in preference to indirect belays, which are for emergency use only. Flooding is one of the most serious underground hazards — trips should check weather forecasts and known sump conditions before entry, with agreed turnaround points if water levels change.
Where a university caving club, Scout group or outdoor centre runs an organised trip under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 or Adventure Activities Licensing requirements, a written risk assessment covering rigging, flooding, hypothermia and confined spaces is expected by landowners, insurers and BCA affiliation.
How it works
1. Describe your trip
Tell us the cave system, trip grade, group size and whether it involves vertical pitches or tight squeezes. See our guide on whether you need one.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant caving risk assessment covering rigging, flooding, hypothermia and first aid provision where relevant to your trip.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Use it for BCA affiliation, landowner access agreements or your own club's safety file. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every caving risk assessment is written in full — covering the hazards specific to your trip and group.
BCA guidelines on party size and first aid provision
Vertical pitch rigging — harnesses, cowstails and belay systems
Flooding and changing underground water levels
Hypothermia from cold, wet conditions
Confined spaces, squeezes and claustrophobia
Rockfall and unstable passage sections
Lighting failure and backup light requirements
Lone working and communication with the surface
Manual handling of tackle bags and rigging kit
Instructor qualifications matched to trip grade
Emergency evacuation and call-out procedures
Landowner and cave access agreements
Group supervision ratios for club and youth trips
Equipment checks — helmets, harnesses and SRT kit
Works for
From university clubs to outdoor education centres, Anyrisks covers every type of organised caving trip.
What customers say
"We run freshers' trips every October and needed something covering rigging and flooding properly, not a Scout PDF. This referenced BCA party size guidance exactly as our insurer expects."
Fergus Lowman
Trip secretary, university caving club, Yorkshire Dales
"Our BCA affiliation renewal asked for a written trip risk assessment covering instructor qualifications and first aid cover. This gave us exactly that."
Bethan Coates
Club secretary, speleological society, Mendips
"We take Duke of Edinburgh groups underground and the outdoor centre needed a caving-specific document, not the general adventure activity form. This covered squeezes, cold and evacuation properly."
Alun Pritchard
Instructor, outdoor education centre, South Wales
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers rigging, flooding and cold exposure together | ✓ | ✗ |
| BCA party size and first aid guidance referenced correctly | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vertical pitch rigging and belay systems included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Confined space and evacuation procedures specified | ✓ | ✗ |
| Suitable for BCA affiliation and insurance sign-off | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Does this follow British Caving Association guidance?
Yes — the assessment references BCA guidelines on maximum party sizes, minimum first aid provision and instructor qualifications for the trip grade, in line with the standards BCA insurance cover expects clubs to follow.
Does it cover vertical pitches and rigging?
Yes — describe whether the trip includes vertical pitches, and the assessment covers sit harnesses, cowstails, direct belay systems and rigging competence, rather than a generic 'wear a helmet' note.
Does it cover flooding and changing water levels underground?
Yes — checking weather forecasts and known sump/flood-prone sections before entry, turnaround points and the escape plan if water levels rise are all covered.
Is this suitable for university and club caving trips, not just commercial groups?
Yes — describe your trip as a university caving club outing, Scout group visit, or commercial show-cave tour and the assessment adjusts group size, supervision ratios and first aid provision accordingly.
Does it cover hypothermia and cold, wet conditions?
Yes — prolonged exposure to cold water and wet conditions underground, along with appropriate clothing and turnaround times to avoid hypothermia, are addressed.
Does it cover confined spaces and squeezes?
Yes — tight squeezes, claustrophobia, and the procedure if a caver becomes stuck are covered alongside general underground movement hazards.
Is this suitable for BCA insurance and landowner access agreements?
Yes — the assessment is written in full, referencing the specific hazards and controls, in the format expected for BCA-affiliated club insurance and cave/landowner access agreements.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your cave system, group size and trip grade, and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced caving risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment? · Risk assessment legal requirements · Canyoning & gorge walking risk assessment