Cumbria Canoeists - Coastal Sea Kayak Trip Generic Risk Assessment
Planning the Activity
Hazard
Objective dangers
Cumbria Canoeists
Risk
Control
The planned journey may encounter tideraces, over-falls, or stretches of exposed
coastline beyond the paddling ability of
group members or group leaders.
Careful use of maps, guides, charts and weather reports combined with
knowledge of individuals’ paddling abilities in the group to plan accordingly.
Ratios of leaders / guides to clients and choice of routes / conditions will comply
with the leader’s sea qualifications and BC best practice guidance.
Ratios
 Sheltered Tidal / Sea 1:8
 Moderate Tidal / Sea 1:4 (1:6 for certain level 3 coach awards /
moderate water sea endorsement)
 Advanced Tidal / Sea 1:4
Level 2 Coach / Sheltered Tidal Water Remit:
Small enclosed bays, enclosed harbours, where there is minimal possibility
of being blown offshore; defined beaches (a short section of beach with
easy landing throughout, no tide races or overfalls beyond the beach), in
conditions in which swimmers and beach craft could be happily operating.
Winds not above Beaufort force 3 (Beaufort force 2 if offshore when
greatest of caution must be exercised); the upper reaches of some suitable,
slow moving estuaries during neap tides. In all cases, the wind and weather
conditions must be favourable.
4 Star Leader / Level 3 Coach / Moderate water endorsement Remit:
Short (6 to 8 miles, of at least 3 hours paddling), single or multi-day
journeys on a stretch of coastline with available landings every 1 to 2 miles
or 1-hour paddling; Can including areas where it is not easy to land and
crossings not exceeding 2 nautical miles. Up to 2 knots of tide (but not
involving tide races or overfalls).
Winds not exceeding Beaufort Force 4.
Launching and landing through surf (up to 1 metre, trough to crest height).
5 Star Leader / Level 3 Coach + 5 star / Advanced water endorsement Remit:
Journey on the sea in areas where tidal races,
headlands, open crossings, swell and challenging coastlines will be
encountered and cannot be avoided; sections of coastline where landings
may not be possible or difficult; difficult sea states and/or stronger winds
(Beaufort Force 4 or above); launching and landing through surf (up to 1.5
metres trough to crest height).
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Cumbria Canoeists - Coastal Sea Kayak Trip Generic Risk Assessment
Other parties poorly informed about the
trip.
Concerned friends and relatives either raise Provide a trip plan to a nominated land based safety contact person for all
an alarm unnecessarily or there is failure to others to contact, including estimated times of its start and finish and procedure
raise the alarm when needed.
in case of non-return. This base safety person will be kept informed of any
changes of plan, issues etc. by the trip leader.
Dependent on the risk assessment the trip leader may advise the Coastguard
and Harbour / Port Authorities of the trip plan and progress / return.
Sea Conditions not appropriate for group
The journey or activity may impose risk
above the capability of some participants
physically or mentally.
Compliance
Non Compliance with Insurance / Licensing All trips will be managed according to BC Event guidance best practice and the
Regulations
related Cumbria Canoeist’s event safety procedures.
Adventure Activity License obtained if under 18’s taken paddling on the sea.
Emergency Situation
Slow or ineffective resolution putting
injured parties or group at further risk.
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Conduct Sea Condition Rating and Group Controls and briefings by leaders;
Paddlers checklist; Leaders will conduct 'dynamic' appraisal of the group,
environment and weather. Leaders have clear criteria for cancellation of event.
Leaders all have appropriate first aid and sea kayak leadership qualification.
Leaders aware of BC emergency protocols for minor, moderate and serious
injury, and on communication with next of kin via BC Duty Officer.
Leaders and safety contact person hold group list and their next of kin
emergency contact details.
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Cumbria Canoeists - Coastal Sea Kayak Trip Generic Risk Assessment
The Group
Hazard
Risk
Control
Different levels of experience in the group. The journey or activity may stretch some
participants physically or mentally beyond
their ability to remain safe.
Plan the activity to take account of all skill levels keeping the group safe.
Leader takes group through risk discussion, including trip plan (start, distance,
finish, time…), tides, obstacles, weather, escape or other alternatives, safety
equipment.
Leader gets group to share experience level;
Paddler checklist completion;
Risk consent & Float boat plan if appropriate. Non-swimmer checks;
Use Sea Condition Rating Scale;
More experienced members of the group monitor and support the less
experienced throughout the journey.
Participants personally agree their capability to participate. (Events limited to
adults, otherwise responsible adult must attest capability)
Make appropriate contingency plans and monitor need to modify plan on the
go.
Members lacking equipment or equipment Individuals or the group put at risk of harm. Ensure that the group has adequate equipment and clothing of the required
they have is of an inadequate standard for
standard for the activity. Spare dry clothing should be carried by all. Leader
the proposed activity.
carries shelter and extra spare clothing. Use of pre-notification of kit list to
participants.
Poor health or lack of fitness, recurrence of Individuals find they are unable to
injury.
complete the journey or safely take part in
the activity.
Either adapt the plan so it is safe to include all of the group or the leader should
ask anybody in poor health not to take part in an activity which is likely to be
beyond their capacity to participate safely.
Leader creates alternative safety stop points / route alternatives.
Plan number of stops – either landing / raft up for rest / refreshments.
Medical Complications or other risks
Medical questionnaire. Confidential discussion with group members; First aid
capability of leader; Ensure any required medication carried.
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Individual incapacitated, emergency
attention required
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Cumbria Canoeists - Coastal Sea Kayak Trip Generic Risk Assessment
Setting Out / Landing
Hazard
Risk
Control
Manual handling of boats on and off
vehicles and trailers.
Injuries to shoulders and back.
Handle boats using at least two people and use trolleys if possible.
Difficult launching and landing areas.
Trips and falls resulting in injury.
Plan launching and landing at states of tide for easy access.
Use several people to move boats from shore to sea and when landing.
Alternative plans for extending / cutting short in case of inability to land.
Use planned difficult landing approaches when necessary – e.g. swimmer
towed, line etc.
Surf
Injury to person or damage to boats.
Assess surf conditions and the potential risk to the group members and their
boats when launching and landing. Swimming ability check.
Weather and sea conditions.
Worse than predicted conditions or
deteriorating conditions may compromise
the safety of the group.
Make an on the spot assessment whether the planned trip should go ahead.
Either cancel the trip or adapt the trip plan to maintain safety according to the
prevailing weather and sea conditions.
Failure to communicate group intention to Activity may be interpreted as an incident
coast guard.
by people on shore.
Call the coast guard by telephone or radio before setting out if appropriate.
No agreed communication signals or call
signs between group members.
Agree a set of signals for occasions when spoken communication cannot be
used, such as in a noisy surf environment.
Agree the marine radio wave band to be used for group communication and call
signs for members. Agree radio usage priority and discipline in group.
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Group management is impaired with the
potential for misinterpretation of signals
and maintenance of group safety.
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Cumbria Canoeists - Coastal Sea Kayak Trip Generic Risk Assessment
On the Sea
Hazard
Risk
Control
Group members separate.
Communication is impaired compromising
group safety potentially leading to the loss
of contact with individuals.
Keep the group paddling close enough together for spoken communication to
be heard, or alternative with VHF or below approaches if this is impractical.
If the group decides to split up ensure this is explicitly agreed, a dynamic risk
assessment is made, and the controls for consequent risks put in place.
Agree appropriate lead and co-lead rules (e.g. Diamond, Square Buddying)
appropriate to conditions and risk.
Travelling close to a rocky shore/rock
hopping, surf.
Collision, Personal Injury. Damage to boat / Participants to wear a helmet at appropriate times. Carry a first aid kit and know
paddles. Entrapment.
how to use it.
Leader ensures group controls, e.g. separation channels, spacing, timing to
minimise risk of collision.
Carry a boat repair kit and know how to use it. Spare paddles carried.
Caves.
Injury or entrapment from sudden sea
surges.
Enter caves with care taking note of headroom, width, and prevailing wave and
sea conditions.
Ensure a member of the group remains outside the cave to warn of incoming
waves that may present a hazard to those inside the cave.
Immersion in cold water.
Immersion in cold water is one of the main
causes of death for sea kayakers, and cold
shock does occasionally kill a highly
competent kayaker before nearby friends
can retrieve him; Drowning; Hypothermia.
Wear kayak clothing which will keep you comfortable in your kayak and
reasonably comfortable during a 15-minute immersion. Know how to do deep
water rescues for able bodied and injured or unconscious paddlers.
All paddlers wear BA’s that comply with CE standard. All boats have hatches or
other forms of buoyancy. Participants briefed on procedures in event of
capsize.
Weather or sea conditions have an adverse Hypothermia, overheating, seasickness,
effect on members’ wellbeing.
psychological / hysterical distress.
Carry spare clothing, hot/cold drinks, emergency group shelter, and emergency
foil blanket.
Build an escape route in to the trip plan.
Utilise supported towing or other approaches as necessary.
Appropriate ‘cut offs’ established for group by leader.
An incident occurs, for example, in an area A delay in getting help diminishes survival
where it is not possible to land or which
time.
requires urgent medical attention or
rescue.
Know how to perform deep-water rescues for able-bodied paddlers and injured
or unconscious paddlers.
Carry a first aid kit and know how to use it. Leaders are all first aid qualified.
Group members should carry marine VHF radios and know how to use them for
mayday and emergency situations. Carry a mobile phone as a back-up, flares
and/or other means of signalling, e.g. laser light, PLB.
Group gets lost or delayed by weather or
other factors.
Group leaders and participants will all carry head torches if there is any risk of a
benightment (included on kit and paddler checklist). Leaders always carry
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Benighted, fog, group distress,
hypothermia, exhaustion etc.
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Cumbria Canoeists - Coastal Sea Kayak Trip Generic Risk Assessment
charts and compasses, and ancillary support GPS device (VHF DSC or Navigation
device).
Adverse wind / weather conditions
Inability to land as planned at end
destination.
Exhaustion or inability of paddlers to make
way.
Leaders continually monitor situation and keep alternatives under review.
Leader creates alternative safety stop points / route alternatives, including
capacity within group to return to last safe point landing, otherwise leg of trip is
abandoned.
Utilise supported towing or other approaches as necessary for any weak
members of group.
Larger Boats / Jet Skis
Collision; Bow / stern wave interaction.
Where possible group avoids navigation channels when larger vessels are
around. Any necessary crossing of restricted channels is done as a controlled
group and to minimise time in the channel. Care taken entering caves and rock
hopping when large vessels are passing. Appropriate group pre-briefing.
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