Lower Wharfe Canoe Club - Risk Assessment:
Assessment By: Phil Mitchell/ Sue Couling
Date of Assessment: April 2011, reviewed February 2012
What are the hazards?
To Who?
Slalom Training sessions (Blue Bridge and Howsham)
Review Date: February 2014
How is the risk controlled?
What further action is
necessary?
Kayaking & Canoeing
All group leaders to carry mobile phone with relevant contact numbers.
Beware of limited Network availability at Howsham
Emergency contact numbers collected at start of session
Medical
River Levels and/or
water quality
Coaches
Participants
Drowning
Participants
Boat Based
Coaches
Medical information collected prior to session, or parents are expected to
remain constantly on site for duration of activity
Group leaders to check for medical conditions before session and to be
aware of any medical treatment carried by paddler.
Groups to carry basic first aid kit
Where possible each group has a first aid trained person
Coaches/Approved Person is to assess river levels before session starts:
Coach/approved person has the authority to cancel session if they are
concerned about the safety cover for session – a higher level of supervision
is needed in these conditions.
If river is contaminated (eg by fuel or sewage) session should be cancelled
and the Environment Agency contacted.
List of approved Trip
leaders and first aiders
produced each season.
All participants undertake a safety test, in which they must be able to exit
an upturned kayak with a spray-deck on
Clothing must be appropriate to activity
All persons on the water must wear a buoyancy aid Coach/Approved
Person should ensure all Buoyancy aids are correctly fitted
All buoyancy aids will pass a 50N test at the start of each season
Personal buoyancy aids are allowed at the discretion of the
Coach/Approved Person
Equipment Officer to
check kit annually.
Annual safety training for
group leaders on boat
rescues and incident
management?
Comments
/dates
What are the hazards?
To Who?
How is the risk controlled?
Entrapment
Participants
Boat Based
Coaches
Equipment is suitable for Individual paddlers
Equipment is checked on a regular basis and maintained correctly
Minimum of one Coach/Approved Person on the water at any time
Launching
Coaches
Participants
Coach/Approved Person to monitor launching
Lone paddlers/loss of
group control
All paddlers
Paddle in groups of at least three with Trip Leader person supervising
For example use experienced paddlers as buddies
Other river users
What further action is
necessary?
Bevigilent for other water users eg fishermen.
When paddling at night on Ouse be particularly vigilant for other boats and
rowing boats.
Group Leader to exercise good group control
Hazards on bank side –
eg trees, stakes,
concrete steps
Submerged Obstacles
Participants
Boat Based
Coaches
Participants informed of potential hazards at start of session
Participants should stay clear of river banks and avoid large trees
Coaches/Approved Persons to exercise good group control
Coaches a/ Approved Persons to be vigilant for hazards.
Hit with paddle or
boats
Gates hitting
participants
Hypothermia
Hyperthermia &
Dehydration
Participants
Coaches
Coaches/Approved Persons should exercise appropriate group control
Participants encouraged to behave responsibly
Helmets to be worn and fastened correctly.
All paddlers
Potential paddling
injuries (eg blisters,
joint injury,
tenosynovitis, surfers
Participants
Coaches
Activities and clothing appropriate to trip particularly winter trip – advice
on what to wear given to participants before trip.
Trip Leader should monitor and take appropriate action and has the right to
end the trip early or to refuse to take participant on the water if not
properly dressed.
Trip Leader to carry rescue kit to deal with hypothermia
Trip Leader to be First aid trained (or have first aider in group)
Participants informed of safe paddling practice
Trip information for new
paddlers to be available
as hard copy and on web
Comments
/dates
ear)
What are the hazards?
To Who?
How is the risk controlled?
Water borne illness &
Wiels disease
Participant
coaches
Participants should be made aware of risk and the need to wash or shower
before consuming food or drink
Changing
Participants
All club members should remain vigilant to inappropriate behaviour, any
suspected cases should be reported to the Child Welfare Officers at the
earliest opportunity.
Members to be aware they are changing in a public space with young
people about.
What further action is
necessary?
Storage of equipment
Hanging lines
Care to be taken when hanging slalom gates to prevent falls by people
hanging gates
or entanglement of paddlers on water
Seating capacity of vehicles is not to be exceeded on shuttles
Driver to check boats are securely loaded
Drivers to be aware of good safeguarding practise when offering lifts to
young people
Care lifting boats on and off vehicles – assistance to be offered if necessary.
Travel arrangements
Securing/loading
Drivers
Passengers
By standers
Back Damage
Participants
Coaches
Participants taught correct manual handling technique
Coach/Approved Person to offer assistance if required
Slips, Trips and Falls
Coaches
Participants
Roads and traffic
Coaches
Participants
Walking to and from water can be uneven, slippery and steep
Correct footwear to be worn
Participants informed of hazards
Authorised Leader to control movement of boats over hazards.
Participants informed of hazard
No boats should be left in the road
Chair of slalom section Signature:
Advice on safeguarding
available from Welfare
Officer
Comments
/dates