Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club
Risk Assessment & Safety Plan
This document contains the risk assessment, safety plan and
procedures for Stratford Boat Club and it is a condition of
club membership that these procedures are followed.
Whilst all members are required to follow the club rules and
procedures it should be remembered at all times there is no
substitute for using your intelligence.
Rowing is a relatively safe sport but any activity associated
with water and the British climate needs constant vigilance
and above all people to use their experience and knowledge
to predict what may happen over the next few hours and act
accordingly.
Contents
1.
The Club
Location
Membership
Facilities
2.
Factors to be considered for water safety
The individual
The boat
The water
3. The dangers that are to be avoided
4. - Risk assessment
(see separate attachment)
Boating generally
Junior rowing
Coxes
Boating upstream
Learn to row
Indoor training
5.
Safety Procedures
Competency requirements
New members
Outings
Cold weather
Launches
Safety equipment
Trailing boats
Land training
Juniors
Incident reporting
Incident response and recovery
6. - Appendices
What should you do if you end up in the water ?
Club Insurance Requirements
Cold Water Rowing Rules
Induction (Topics to cover)
1. The Club
SUABC is a well established club founded in 1874 with a membership of about 160 . The club
comprises a small area of land adjacent to the river and a public recreation ground with a
club building and restricted parking area. The building contains a boat shed and changing
rooms on the ground floor and a small clubhouse with training facilities on the first floor.
Location
The Avon at Stratford has 2 distinct sections for rowing.
Downstream
From the boat house to the weir where most training is done is a stretch of water about
750m long and 30m wide. Sufficient for two boats to pass easily, although the river is not
straight and constant steering is necessary. There is a towpath through the park the entire
length of this stretch which makes supervision easy. This area is heavily peopled so any
capsize is unlikely to go unnoticed. The banks are generally easy to climb though not in all
areas and most of the river is quite shallow, approx 4 to 5 feet. However, the water has to be
shared with a significant amount of other water traffic, narrow boats (some that are
moored) and tourists in rowing boats and small motor boats. During the summer months
training times are reduced on weekend mornings to avoid the high volumes of other water
traffic. The weir is barricaded off making it virtually impossible for a boat to go over. During
times of heavy rainfall when the river is flowing fast then boats need to give themselves
additional room to turn to avoid becoming trapped against the weir barriers.
Upstream
This area of water extends for about 3km from the boat house and is generally about 20m to
25m wide. Passing boats need to take more care. This stretch of water is generally only used
for more high performance training. There is no towpath and the water and banks are very
quiet. There are some fishermen occasionally, houses set back with long gardens and two
caravan parks and farmland. Any capsizes would generally only be noticed by a fellow club
member. Once again the banks are generally easy to climb though not in all areas and most
of the river is quite shallow, again about 4 to 5 feet. Access to upstream is only achieved by
going under two bridges, one with wide arches and the other with narrow arches. Navigating
through the second bridge is very tricky. If positioned centrally a sculling boat can go
through without adjusting its blades though this is usually not possible and one blade needs
to be pulled in. Rowing blades always need to be pulled in to avoid the arches. For this
reason only competent rowers are allowed upstream. When the river is fast flowing no
boats are allowed upstream as this manoeuvre becomes too difficult and the chances of the
stream trapping the boat against the bridge become much more likely. Because this stretch
of water has no towpath juniors are only allowed to go upstream as long as they are
accompanied by a safety launch. All senior single scullers should make someone aware if
they are going upstream. In the winter months they should take a mobile phone and foil
blanket with them as an added safety measure.
Membership
There is a fairly even split in the club between Junior and Senior members. The
senior members have fairly good representation in all age bands from early twenties
to sixty and beyond. Both Junior and Senior members are active competitively.
Adults – Masters and Seniors
There are currently between 80 adult members ranging from competent and
experienced people to novice beginners. There is an adult teaching programme;
Learn to Row (L2R) for new members who have not rowed before. These are run at
least once and sometimes twice a year.
Adult rowing is divided into squads and organised by the Master’s, Senior Men’s and
Senior Woman’s Vice Captains. Once seniors have completed their novice year there
is less organised coaching and most crews go out on their own without a coach or a
launch.
Touring and Recreational Rowers
This has increased at Stratford over the last year with the launch of explore rowing by
British Rowing. We have a number of new learn to row / touring boats that are
predominantly used by the novice seniors. A number of touring days have also been
organised. Risk assessments for these trips need to be carried out prior to the trip
taking place.
Beginners
Members who have recently completed a L2R course are assigned to a senior or
masters squad as appropriate. Their squad Vice Captain is responsible for ensuring
they receive training throughout their novice year. They are subject to additional
restrictions on the boats they can take-out and the levels of supervision of their
outings.
Juniors
There are approximately 80 juniors who are generally recruited from the local
schools. This group is organised and coached by the Club Junior Co-ordinator with
the support of other coaches and parents acting as spotters on the river banks. All
junior coaches are CRB checked and have at least IA or UKCC Level 2 coaching
qualifications.
Facilities
The club’s facilities are fairly basic and we all hope that the planned re-building of the
boat house goes ahead next year and upgrades these facilities. The changing rooms
have showers which are generally only used by the victim of a capsize. Seniors are
asked not to use the showers whilst juniors are on the premises and this system
works well.
The boat shed is very cramped and the carrying out and in of boats is difficult. It is
essential that boats are carried by sufficient numbers of people to prevent damage to
the boats and injury to the carriers.
The first floor club room contains a small kitchen & bar, some weights and about 10
ergo machines.
Equipment
This club has a fleet of about 40 boats ranging from eights to sculling boats, some
good and some not so good. There are also a number of privately owned boats that
are racked at the club. The older boats tend to be racked outside due to shortage of
space inside.
There are two club safety / coaching launches.
Safety Notice Board
The Club safety notice board is maintained in the boathouse and contains the
following information:
Emergency Phone Numbers
Local river navigation rules, restrictions access for emergency vehicles etc.
Boat Booking Book
Incident reporting Book
Day Board containing restrictions, new hazards
Insurance information
2. Factors to be considered for water safety
Personal Factors
The Individual
Ability to swim This is an absolute requirement (although a non-swimmer with a
suitable buoyancy aid may be given permission) Compulsory swimming test for all
members
State of health/fitness Needs to be evaluated on an individual basis Included in
membership form and all members required to inform club if medical situation
changes
Existence of any disability
Requires assessment on a case by case basis. Included in membership form and
all members required to inform club if medical situation changes
Age Both young and old may require special consideration Juniors have additional
rules.
Technical competence of the rower/cox
The level of competence of the rower in the boat they are to use, e.g. rower in a
coxed boat or a single sculler
Clothing worn Requires suitable protection from cold/wet weather or alternatively
from sun and heat. Also relevant to consider the is ability to swim in the clothes in the
event of a capsize
Factors Related to the Activity/Equipment
The boat
Type of boat used Eights and fours are very unlikely to capsize, but can be
swamped in rough water or may founder as a result of a collision. They are slower to
turn around and in a fast stream this can be problematic. Risk of immersion is much
higher for those in small boats which are more prone to capsize. Coxed boats are
inherently safer than coxless boats.
Defective equipment Inadequate heel restraints, bow balls, unsealed buoyancy
chambers, loose riggers, gates, buttons, etc. are all sources of risk
Inherent buoyancy Not a major issue on the Avon, but requires consideration
when visiting rougher water venues
Location of activity Rowing downstream is generally safer than rowing upstream. It
is much easier to supervise. However it is busier with river traffic. Rowing on waters
away from our home stretch introduces new risks that have to be evaluated
individually.
Overhanging trees etc. Particularly hazardous for coxless boats
Alone or accompanied An unaccompanied single sculler is obviously the most
vulnerable in the event of a mishap.
Environmental Factors
The Water
High water level/Speed of current
The height of river can be a danger in itself, but speed of current is usually the more
relevant issue. River can be sometimes be high but placid. The height of the river will
affect getting into and out of boats.
Amount and size of driftwood
Related to height of river (usually more driftwood when level rising)
Temperature of water Cold water is a severe risk when there is a danger of
immersion.
Air temperature and wind chill factor are also relevant.
Rough water Generally caused by wind, particularly when going against the
direction of the stream. May cause swamping or capsize. Not usually an issue on the
Avon.
High wind Causes rough water, as stated above, but also a hazard in itself
Snow, hail, rain Can contribute to hypothermia, particularly when windy as well
Lightning A boat on an expanse of open water is a very potential lightning target
Poor visibility Fog or darkness are inherently dangerous, but may also make other
accidents much more serious because they reduce the chances of rescue
Amount of other river traffic including moored boats
Both the volume of other traffic and the nature of the other boats (speed, amount of
wash, etc.) Increase in the risk of collision, reduced visibility
Water-borne diseases Additional danger in relation to immersion or transfer hand-to
mouth.
3. The dangers that are to be avoided
Drowning
In mild conditions, drowning is considered unlikely as the river is narrow and fairly
shallow with a relatively slow stream. Cold shock in winter months does however
make drowning a possibility and hence this is regarded as a higher risk. All members
are required to demonstrate that they can swim 100m and are given a swimming test
as part of the normal club capsize drill required for all new members.
This risk is addressed by the swimming test for new members
Hypothermia
Not likely downstream due to the proximity of the boat house, the area being well
supervised and very visible to the public. The isolated nature of the river upstream
means this is a possibility in the winter months when not attended by a launch. Single
scullers should carry a space blanket and a phone and a number of someone at the
clubhouse at this time. In very cold weather single scullers should not row alone
upstream.
Injury from Collisions, or Capsize
There are a number of minor collisions at Stratford each year. Boats collide with each
other, with other river craft, with flotsam, and with the bank. To date there have been
no significant injuries although damage to the boats is often suffered and collisions
are regarded as a significant potential incident particularly during the summer months
when there is increased river traffic. Thankfully there is less river traffic during the
colder months when the potential consequences of collision are highest. There are
quite regular capsizes at Stratford, usually due to the competence of the rower. In
cold water, there is a risk of hypothermia.
This risk is addressed by close supervision of beginners and only allowing
competent rowers to row upstream.
Heart Attack – Stroke
Heart attacks have occurred in British Rowing and there is only a small risk at
Stratford due to the age profile of the members. It is something to be addressed at
the Fun regatta event, especially if this becomes a land based event.
This risk is addressed by the Club membership questionnaire and the
procedures for vulnerable people.
Minor Cuts / Blisters (Slight Injury/Highly Probable )
Cuts are possible due to handling the boat, from exposed rigger bolts, from sculling
technique etc. Blisters are a common issue. These are dealt with at the club by basic
hygiene procedures and first aid.
First Aid kit is provided in the boathouse.
Muscle Strain ( Injury Quite likely )
Back strains are quite common and are dealt with by the members GP and
physiotherapy. The likelihood of these is reduced by restricting rowing to juniors over
the age of fifteen. Once members become reasonably competent rowers/scullers,
and hence increasing their effort, then more attention should be paid to back
stretching, core exercises and alternating the sides on which they row, to reduce
back injury
Coaches need to ensure this is taking place
Leptospirosis & Weil’s Disease Water quality is generally reasonable, however, there is a lot of motorised river traffic
so there will be pollution from diesel as well as significant droppings from the large
quantity of ducks, geese and swans that live there. Of particular concern is the
boating area that is popular with the marine life and continually contaminated by
faeces. This is swept regularly but is never sufficiently clean not to remain a hygiene
hazard.
Weil’s disease is a waterborne bacterial infection (Leptospirosis) that is contracted
commonly from water contaminated by mammal urine that may enter the body
through a cut.
This risk is addressed by an awareness notice in the boathouse, the use of
basic hygiene requirements and the provision of washing facilities in the boat
house. Coaches need to nag the juniors more about washing their hands after
an outing.
4. Risk Assessment
Boating generally
Junior rowing
Coxes
Boating upstream
Learn to row
Indoor training
(see separate attachment)
5. Safety Procedures
The SUABC Committee has adopted the following safety procedures for all outings in
order to minimise the likelihood of a incident.
Safety Procedures
1. Competency requirements
2. New members
3. Outings
4. Cold weather
5. Launches
6. Safety Equipment
7. Trailing Boats
8. Land Training
9. Juniors
10. Incident reporting
11. Incident response and recovery
12. Duty coach
14
Competency Requirements
A number of key competencies are required before members are allowed to
undertake specific activities within the club. Some e.g. Health Status will be selfcertified by the members on their application forms, others e.g. Rowing/Sculling
Competence and Coxless Boat Steering will be assessed by a club official and others
e.g. Launch Driving will require external qualifications:
Induction Training – required to use club equipment
Health Status – required upon joining club to ensure you are in a fit state to take
part.
Swimming Test and Capsize Drill – Juniors are required to complete these before
they can use a club boat without wearing a buoyancy aid. Adults can self certify but
need to complete these tests during their first year.
Coxing Competence – required before coxing a boat with inexperienced club
members
Rowing Competence – required to be allowed to row unsupervised
CRB – required to be in charge of juniors
Coaching – required to coach crews
Launch Driving RYA level 2 – required before taking charge of a club launch
New Members, Visitors and Inexperienced People
New members and visitors must complete an application form before undertaking
any activity with the Club. Members wishing to introduce guest rowers must request
the permission of the Captain or other Club official prior to any outing.
All new members will be given induction training before being allowed to use club
equipment or go afloat. Records will be maintained of all induction and other safety
training. All safety procedures apply to visitors and to members using their own
boats. New and inexperienced members may have additional limitations on the boats
they may take out. This will apply individually and each member will be informed by
the Captain or the appropriate Vice Captain which boats they are allowed to use and
in what conditions with or without a coach. New adult members shall be required to
self-certify their swimming competence and encouraged to wear buoyancy aids until
they have taken and passed the swimming test. All existing and new members are
required to tell the club if for any reason they may be at risk due to current or
previous illness or injury. If necessary they should seek medical advice before
continuing with any water or land based club activity.
OUTINGS
In periods of very bad weather or river flood conditions, the Captain or a ViceCaptain or the duty Coach will post a ‘Red Conditions’ notice in the boathouse
prohibiting all outings. In all other conditions, safety requirements and procedures
depend on the factors involved; boat type; crew competence, weather and river
conditions etc.
Boat Equipment check
Boat checks before going out on the water:
Check hull and canvas for any damage
Check bow ball is secure with no sharp bolts protruding
Check slides secure and seat running smoothly
Check all out riggers and rigging bolts are tight
Check gates are secure and operating freely
Check bungs are water tight
Check heel restraints prevent heels rising above the level of the lowest shoe fixing
Check foot release works
Check rudder lines and steering mechanisms and rudder are in good working order
Check blades are in good order, buttons are set properly and secure
Check shoes are in correct position
The boat has the correct buoyancy for the weight of the crew.
Clothing
Everyone should be wearing appropriate clothing for the conditions. All single
scullers and bow position rowers are to wear high viz tee shirts due to the busy
nature of the river at Stratford to ensure they are seen.
Close-fitting clothing
Warm clothing in cold weather
Buoyancy aid unless passed swimming and capsize test
Sun screen in sunny weather
Crew Composition
Vulnerable adults or Juniors will need additional protection. Close supervision from
coaches either on the bank or from a launch as appropriate.
Boat Booking
Before leaving the boathouse, crews must enter the outing details in the Boat
Booking file indicating the name of the boat, name of stroke, and whether going up
stream or downstream. On return, the boat must be signed back in and any damage
must be reported on the report sheet. If the boat is too badly damaged to be used
safely, a sign shall be attached to the boat saying it is not to be used.
Boat Handling
All members shall be shown the appropriate methods of lifting boats on and off
the racking and onto trestles and into the water to avoid both injury and damage.
The cox or coach will give the lifting instructions as appropriate.
Boating and Rowing Conventions
All boats will boat against the current unless there is a strong tail wind in which case
boating downstream will be adopted. Care is to be taken by all boats when turning at
the club or weir. They should follow the circulation pattern and not turn unexpectedly
short, unless there is a strong current, and must get out of the way of other crews as
soon as is practicable.
Incidents (see Incident Reporting below)
COLD WEATHER
There are more risks rowing in cold weather – do not think you can carry-on
regardless – please use your brain on the bank whilst it is still relatively warm
Rowing upstream has high risks associated with isolation and the rural nature of
the area. In some stretches it will be difficult to summon assistance.
If you fall in it could take a very long time for help to arrive. In cold weather the
most important factors are time and your inability to think or do much to help
yourself. Be absolutely sure you understand the risks, speak to a coach or vice
captain for advice if necessary.
Cold water immersion shock is immediately very debilitating.
Vulnerable people will be significantly affected by cold air conditions.
Risk Factors
Cold air temperatures are a risk to young people, older people and
novices who cannot row hard enough for long enough to keep warm.
Cold hands and bulky clothing will reduce skills and ability to bow steer.
Cold water immersion will disable you almost instantly and greatly
reduce your ability to recover from a capsize. Bulky clothing will also make swimming
very difficult.
Keep Warm & Able to Row
Wear the correct clothing in the boat (multiple high-tech layers).
Cover your head and use pogies or thin fingerless gloves.
Bow steers must remain flexible and coxes must be able to keep warm without too
much bulk.
Warm-up on land and keep rowing throughout the outing.
Reduce the Likelihood of Falling In
Only row in a boat appropriate to your skill.
No outings if there is ice or much debris on the water.
Reduce the Consequence of Falling In
Juniors and novices to have the coaches/captain’s permission to go out.
Launches are required for all high risk crews going upstream. The launch must be
capable of taking everyone to the bank or recovering a full crew, keeping them warm
and must have two drivers.
Recovery – how will you summon assistance? How will you get
out of the water? How will you get to a warm place?
If in doubt – do an ergo instead!!!
Cold Weather advice applies below 5 deg C water or air (excluding windchill)
temperature or when the Captain posts a notice in the clubhouse.
LAUNCHES
SUABC has one Coaching and one Safety Launch as defined in Row Safe.
Both launches must have the following equipment on board, this must be checked
before each outing:
Megaphone,
Paddle, boathook, anchor line, bailer
Toolkit, length of rope, safety knife
Launch rescue kits including space blankets and throw lines
Buoyancy aids
First aid equipment
Mobile phone with emergency phone numbers
The coaching launches are moored in shallow water and must be moved to deeper
water before the engine is started to prevent damage to the engine. If the tank is less
than 1/4 full, the coach will have the tank re-filled as quickly as possible. All launch
drivers must hold an RYA-2 certificate in power boating (or equivalent) and should be
fully aware of the rules of the river. Launches going upstream must have a spotter or
coach as appropriate to the outing. Downstream launches do not need a spotter as
there are spotters and coaches located along the bank. Launches shall be marked
with a plate stating the maximum weight it can safely carry normally expressed as the
number of adults. All launch fuel shall be maintained in suitable containers and
secured outside the boathouse in an approved manner for flammable material.
Sufficient fuel must always be available for the outing with a reserve in case of
difficulties.
Use of Launches for Recovery
Coaching launches are not designed to carry out a full recovery of a capsized crew
but they are able to play a significant part in assisting crews by:
Communicating with the emergency services and/or recovery team and helping to
ensure that the effects of cold water and weather are minimised whilst waiting for
recovery.
Helping to move the capsized boat to the bank
Recovering equipment
Bringing the most distressed people onboard the launch if possible and either
ferrying them to the bank or in extreme cases returning them to the club.
Safety Equipment
All safety equipment including buoyancy aids, fire extinguishers, first aid equipment,
throw lines, safety blankets etc. shall be examined and confirmed as in good order
every three months by the Water Safety Advisor. A record log must be kept of the
examinations. Instructions and training shall be provided for safety equipment where
appropriate.
Lifejackets and Flotation aids
The following people must wear a life jacket or PFD:
Launch drivers and their passengers.
Juniors who have not passed a swim test.
Adults who cannot swim
Coxes
Checks
All Life jackets PFD’s must be checked every 3 months, and a record kept of the
following
Webbing, stitching, buckles and zips to be in good order
Unscrew gas canister, check it isn’t puncture and it is free from corrosion, then screw
it up tight.
If it is automatic then check the cartridge has not been fired
Check the manual pull cord is fitted correctly
Inflate the bladder and make sure it remains inflated for one hour and not suffer
leakage (to be inflated by pump not orally)
Check the foam in the Flotation aids is still firm it can deteriorate over time
Use
Lifejackets and PFD’s must be worn correctly. They should be tight but comfortable.
All straps must be done up including the crotch strap.
Do not pin race numbers to the life jacket.
TRAILING BOATS
Anyone wishing to transport club boats by road needs to read, understand and
comply with the large number of rules and advice that applies to trailing boats.
See the British Rowing website and Row Safe (section 2.5) that addresses the
minimum standards and good practice to be employed.
British Rowing guidance:
Driver's Handbook
Trailing Towing
Guidance for transporting oar propelled racing boats
Rowing & Trailers
Other guidance:
Highway Code - Are you fit to tow?
DVLA Driving Licence Requirements for Towing Trailers in Great Britain
DVLA Driving a Minibus
The Caravan Club
Trailer Drivers
Ensure you have the correct license and insurance for towing a trailer. Make yourself
aware of the highway code regulations for towing. If you haven’t towed before take
an unloaded trailer out for familiarisation beforehand. Practice reversing.
Specific requirements for each trip
Confirm the trailer has a spare tyre and tools
Confirm the towing vehicle is appropriate
Confirm appropriate insurance is in place.
Confirm the loading plan is appropriate and all equipment is secured correctly
Check the tyres (including spare), lights, projection markers and the
security of the load, jockey wheel and brakes
Drivers must always carry a passenger to help with navigation, manoeuvring and
any emergency that may arise
Drivers will take a break if the journey is in excess of 2 hours
Driver or passenger will carry a mobile phone.
Be aware of the dangers of high winds and icy conditions and consult the weather
forecast before setting off.
Procedure 5 – TRAILING BOATS
LAND TRAINING
All club members using land training equipment shall:
Follow rules on the use of machines – including the wearing of appropriate clothing.
Inform the club and the person supervising the training session of any reason you
may be at risk due to current or previous illness or injury and seek medical advice
before continuing.
Do not train if you are ill.
Warm-up, stretching and cool-down appropriately for the activity
Check the machine prior to use
Report any incidents or defects to the machine
Coaches shall ensure that beginners sit correctly on the machines and adopt good
posture and practice to ensure injuries do not occur.
Members will not use heavy weights unless they have received instruction in there
proper usage. Only J16’s and above are allowed to use the weights. Do not use
weights if you are by yourself. Only lift weights that are appropriate to the individual
N
ING
JUNIORS
Child Protection
All people who may have contact with junior members at SUABC shall observe the
British Rowing “safeguarding and protecting children policy”.
The following condition applies to JUNIOR (under 18) membership:
The parent/carer of an Under 18 member understands that, in the
event of injury or illness, all reasonable steps will be taken to
contact him/her, and to deal with that injury/illness appropriately.
Where contact cannot be made, he/she authorises the Junior
Organiser, or his/her nominee, to act ‘in loco parentis’ with regard to
any decisions that need to be made to ensure the safety and health
of the child, including the signing of any document required by
medical/hospital authorities.
Code of Conduct for Parents/Members/ Volunteers & Carers In the case of nonfamily adults:
Unless you have a current SUABC CRB registration you may not
supervise juniors. You must try to ensure that you always have one other adult with
you unless circumstances make that impossible at that moment. This adult
will preferably be a parent of one of the juniors or another CRB registered adult
The following additional procedures shall apply to all outings involving Juniors;
1. All outings will have a L2 coach on duty and spotters if required. Any outings
upstream will be accompanied by a launch.
2. If a junior is involved in an incident his/her parent or guardian shall be informed as
soon as practicable and arrangements made to keep him/her in a safe place until the
parent or guardian is able to pick them up. Alternatively the junior may be driven
home by someone having a CRB certificate.
3. Parents are required to sign appropriate consent forms for all junior activities
including water and land training including permission to video and photograph the
crews.
4. On joining the club a junior and his parents will be issued with;
a. a junior membership form to be signed by both the applicant and their
parents/guardian
b. a copy of the junior club rules
c. a copy of the junior handbook
Changing rooms
Coaches and their charges must not change in the same room at the same time. It is
also not recommended that any adults and juniors use the changing facilities at the
same time. Generally at Stratford the showers only get used by capsize victims and
sometimes by adults later in the evenings during the week when juniors are not
present. If this arrangement is adhered to then there would appear to be no problems
with the present set up.
INCIDENT REPORTING
Full Incident and ‘Near Incident’ reporting is a British Rowing
requirement. Good incident data is vital to learn lessons and improve
the safety of the sport. It is also necessary at a national level to
demonstrate to outside bodies and funding institutions that the sport
understands the risks involved in its activities and is doing its best to
reduce and manage them
Incidents that Shall be Reported
Club members are responsible for reporting all incidents or ‘near incidents’
associated with any aspect of their rowing, sculling or training activities. A ‘near
incident’ is defined as something that could lead to an incident or reduce recovery
capability but was noticed and corrected before any incident could occur. Whether
part of the activity or not you must report all incidents of which you have knowledge
or feel a dangerous situation existed.
Capsize – any event leading to someone falling out of a boat.
Collision – any contact with a moving or static object irrespective of damage caused.
Swamping – taking-on enough water that the boat cannot continue normal rowing.
Health – any injury or health effect that leads to someone being unable to row/scull
normally or will affect them after the outing including hypothermia, heat stress,
waterborne diseases, respiratory, stress, muscle strain, boat handling cuts/strains.
Equipment Failure – any equipment failure in the boat, launch or boathouse that
leads to an incident or reduced recovery capability.
Land Training – any equipment failure or health issue associated with land based
activities.
Trailer Towing – any driving issue, equipment failure or boat movement / stowage /
handling problem
Behaviour – vandalism, violence, theft etc.
Examples of ‘near incidents’ would include
Where sudden evasive action had to be taken to avoid a collision
Where a boat is flouting navigation rules
Where a crew has boated in high risk conditions
Where a dangerous situation existed
Procedure
Incidents or near incidents shall be recorded in the club incident book before leaving
the club. The Club Water Safety Advisor (CWSA) shall be informed by email or
telephone as soon as possible but definitely within 24 hours and an Incident Report
shall be submitted on the British Rowing online system. The club member may report
online themselves or the CWSA may be asked to assist. The time limit for British
Rowing reporting is normally 48 hours but may be extended by the CWSA in
exceptional circumstances.
Safety Procedure 8 – INCIDENT REPORTING
INCIDENT RESPONSE & RECOVERY
All outings shall have the key elements of an emergency recovery plan. This means
that either the outing must always be observed (coached from a launch or bicycle) or
the crew must have the appropriate equipment and ability to summon support if there
is an injury or acute medical problem. A mobile phone should be used as the primary
method to alert the emergency services (river search & rescue as well as the police
or ambulance). In some conditions it may not be practicable to satisfy the above. In
such cases the outing must either be abandoned or the crew shall limit themselves
to only rowing downstream of the clubhouse.
Recovery.
Downstream there are no issues with access. The river is almost always under
observation from members of the public and there is access for the emergency
services to all areas of the bank through the recreation ground.
Upstream is a different proposition. It is generally not well observed and access is
restricted. The access points for the emergency services are marked on a river map
on the safety board in the boathouse. They comprise;
1. An emergency boat offload point just upstream of the Clopton bridge.
2. Fisherman’s car park on Warwick road
3. Rayford Caravan Park, Tiddington Road CV37 7AB
4. Avon Caravan Park, Warwick Road CV37 0NS
5. Riverside Caravan Park, Tiddington Road CV37 7AB
6. Carter’s Lane, Tiddington
Between these locations there are garden frontages and farmlandwhich in an
emergency can be used by boat crews to contact a member of the public. Sometimes
the bank is awkward to scramble up but the river is shallow enough to allow people to
stand upright in so getting out of the river to safety is reasonably easy. In cold
weather lone rowers should take a mobile phone and foil blankets in case of an
accident. Given the above more than 95% of accidents upstream happen at the
Clopton bridge which is a very pubic place.
DUTY COACH
At weekends a level 2 coach will be on duty, (this will alternate between coaches on
a rota basis). Their tasks on arrival will be to determine the safety rules for that day’s
rowing. They will use a thermometer to take the temperature of the water to see if the
cold water rowing rules apply and they will measure the flow rate of the stream to
see if that will have an effect on the circulation pattern and whether rowing upstream
will be allowed.
The coach will then rule on whether rowing is affected. What crews and what boats
are allowed out and where. The rules, though applied differently, may affect seniors
as well as juniors
6. - Appendices
What should you do if you end up in the water ?
1. STAY AFLOAT. Avoid submersion of your head and face;
2. STAY CALM. Know that the effects of cold shock will pass.
3. STAY WITH THE BOAT. If rescue is likely, stay with the boat.
4. GET OUT OF THE WATER. Get yourself or as much of your body as
possible out of the water as quickly as possible.
5. STRADDLE AND PADDLE if on a single
In a single scull, if there is no-one to rescue you, or if other dangers are present
then with your torso over the upturned hull, paddle the boat with your arms to the
nearest point of safety.
6. DON’T SWIM
Unless rescue is immediately to hand or other danger is imminent, don‟t swim
Cold water can impair your swimming ability no matter how good a swimmer you
are in a warm pool. Do not make the decision to swim even a relatively short
distance in cold water, you may not make it!
When in the water you may underestimate the distance that you do have to swim.
7. If you are separated from your boat or remain immersed away from the
shore. H.E.L.P yourself!
If you have something that floats then hold onto it.
Remain as still as possible to conserve heat, treading water and swimming will
increase heat loss
Club Insurance Requirements
Club Insurance must include the following:
Public Liability Insurance
Product liability
Employers liability Insurance
Buildings & contents insurance
These insurances include cover for :
All activities at the club including regattas
Activities away from the club
Towing insurance
Cold Water Rowing Rules
The risk of suffering severe hypothermia on capsizing and being
immersed in cold water increases significantly during cold periods. To
minimise the risk associated with immersion in cold water the following
additional rules apply over and above the normal club rules when the
water temperature is 8ºC or less. All river status messages will be posted
on the river status board on the boat shed door.
· Amber conditions apply in water which is less than or equal to 8ºC. No
inexperienced members are to be out without coaching supervision and
launch cover.
· At water temperatures less than or equal to 5ºC no novice or
inexperienced rowers in small boats (singles, doubles and pairs) are
allowed to go out. Big boats (fours, quads and eights) may continue to go
out. The river status will remain at Amber.
· At water temperatures less than or equal to 3ºC all small boat rowing is
suspended. Big boats may continue to go out with coaching supervision
and launch cover. Juniors are not permitted to row. The river status will
move to Red/Amber
· Ice on the water. All rowing is suspended and the river status changed to
Red.
Even when rowing is permitted it is every member’s responsibility to
carry out their own risk assessment and decide whether it is safe to go
out. There is a rule of thumb used by safety services which states that you
have one minute for every degree to be rescued. i.e. if the water is 1 c you
have 1 minute. That is 1 minute from the time of falling in, for the rescue
craft to reach you, to get you out of the water and wrapped in a thermal blanket
before hypothermia sets in.
Induction
(Topics to cover)
Any medical / health issues
Discuss swimming & capsize test & what to do at a real capsize?
Capsizing - showers, coca cola, water borne diseases, change of clothes
Safety notice board
Describe river - where they learn, weir, circulation pattern
Safety precautions - launches, spotters, throw lines, life jackets & flotation aids,
hypothermia & space blankets
No glass or ceramic (mugs) materials in the boat house and boating area?
First aid - who can do it & where the first aid boxes are
Location of emergency telephone
Club officers - junior co-ordinator, water safety officer, welfare officer, captain
Clothing - what to wear, what not to wear
Supervision - session times / punctuality, duration, when they can go afloat; changing
see Child Protection
Weather & River conditions & Duty coach
Booking boats - adults only / Boat allocation for juniors via coaches?
Tour of the club house
Kids & parents to practice with throw lines
Lifting boats & carrying boats rules / good practice for adults & rules for juniors?
For adults - child protection protocols e.g. when children are using changing facilities
no adults in there with them