Regents Canoe Club, 16-34 Graham Street, London, N1 8JX
BCU Membership number: 598
RISK ASSESSMENT
Activity assessed: CANAL SESSIONSAssessor: Sarah Gibbs
Date: 30th June 2012
RCC training and safety officer: Mark Rowe
This Risk Assessment is provided to give leaders and participants guidance as to the standards and precautions to be expected when taking part in Club activities. It is designed to ensure that everyone can have fun on the water in the knowledge that they are protected from harm to a reasonable degree. It does not guarantee safety but it gives sensible advice to minimise risk. Leaders will need to carry out dynamic risk assessments throughout the activity and act appropriately when circumstances are not covered by this document.
This risk assessment is designed to operate in tandem with the club’s safety policy and the declarations made in the membership form or participation statement.
Limitations of Club Liability
As a member of the club, members (and their guests or visitors) may use club premises, facilities and equipment entirely at their own risk and implicitly accept that:
· the club does not accept liability for any loss or damage to personal property;
· canoeing and kayaking are assumed risk sports which carry risk of accident and injury;
· open water, including Regents canal, may present a risk of Weil’s Disease.
OUTLINE OF THE ACTIVITY:RCC has a London base at Regents Canal Basin in Islington (16-34 Graham Street, N1 8JX). The club rents use of the site from the Islington Boat Club. IBC is a youth club, for young people aged 9 to 19. IBC is a registered charity; it receives a small grant each year from Islington Council but relies upon donations from various bodies to survive. The IBC Management Committee runs the Club and employs a Club leader and other staff to deal with the daily operation. RCC is a separate adult club (18+) run by its own management committee.
RCC club sessions are Mondays evenings 18:30 to 20:30 and Thursday evenings 19:00 to 21:00. Members are free to use club equipment and paddle on the basin. Sessions are also organised throughout the year. These include training sessions (for example, BCU star awards) fitness sessions (for example slalom) and social events such as barbeques or games evenings.
The canal sessions are also used for new members evenings as well as sessions on the Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking courses. Anyone using club equipment on the canal during RCC sessions must be a member or participant on a course or organised session.
As of May 2012 all New Members must undertake a New Members induction night which gives them an introduction to the site, basic safety skills, basic manual handling and RCC procedures.
HAZARDS / WHO MIGHT BE HARMED / DESCRIPTION / CONTROL MEASURES
General hazards associated with canal session / managing access / All members and participants / The club is run by members for members. Everyone at Regents is a volunteer. The canal is often the first place new and inexperienced members get to try out kayaking. RCC has established a duty rota to try and ensure all canal sessions are covered.
· The Club will use its best endeavours to ensure that there will be someone on duty during Club evenings throughout the year; in addition, there are usually several experienced paddlers on the water, effectively increasing safety cover.
· The RCC will draw up a duty person rota. All Club members will be assigned at least one duty night throughout the year; in some cases two duty nights may have to be undertaken.
· The Duty Person's function is to:
a) Ensure that everyone on the water / pontoons is wearing a buoyancy aid.
b) Ensure all paddlers sign on and off the water.
c) Act as the focal point for new members / visitors, collect fees where necessary and passing monies collected onto the Treasurer.
d) Carry out any water supervision needs for new members.
e) Act as focal point in case of accidents / emergencies arising.
f) Ensure paddlers are aware of their responsibilities regarding paddling past the first lock.
· The Duty Person will have the use of a folder / box, maintained by the Safety Officer, including:
a) Name and address / telephone number of the Club for emergency use
b) Location of the nearest casualty department
c) Location of first aid boxes on site
d) List of the current Management Committee members e) Membership forms and Club leaflets
f) Note paper and pen etc.
g) Accident forms.
· It is advised that the first aid box should be brought out with the duty folder when the club is unlocked.
· The duty person should wear the High Vis vest available in the duty folder.
Emergency contacts
The membership secretary maintains an emergency contact database for all members. This is accessible by any member of the committee or the membership secretary.
Missing persons / All members and participants / People can paddle out of sight of the duty officer.
· At every session, the sign-in book will be made available by the duty person.
· It is each member’s responsibility to sign in before using a boat on the canal AND to sign again after leaving the water.
· Members must sign if they are paddling past the first lock.
· Members are advised not to paddle past the first lock alone.
· New and inexperienced members are encouraged to stay in sight of RCC.
Manual handling: loading and unloading boats / carrying boats (musclo skeletal injuries) / All members and participants / Kayaks and canoes are heavy and awkward. They need to be lifted and carried to the water. Occasionally they will also need to be carried past river hazards (for example portaged round locks).
· Training in manual handling to be a part of all IWWKC and new members sessions and repeated occasionally for other club members.
· Use of correct lifting techniques.
· Minimise lifting and carrying by; sharing, use of slings, minimal carry distance, heavy boats to be carried by strong people.
General paddling musculo skeletal injuries / All members and participants / Paddling carries a risk of musculo-skeletal injury, for example a dislocated shoulder.
· Members are aware that canoeing and kayaking are assumed risk sports that carry a risk of accident and injury.
· It is recommended to warm up or stretch before paddling. This is included as part of the IWWKC and repeated occasionally for other club members.
· Paddlers should be trained in appropriate paddling techniques to avoid injury.
· Ensure training in rescue techniques that avoid excessive strain when handling waterlogged boats and heavy paddlers in the water. The club organises and offers subsidies for safety training. Correct rescue techniques are also part of BCU star training currently regularly offered by the club.
· As part of the membership process members are asked about pre-existing injuries. They are made aware that it is their duty to inform their coach, river leader or paddling partners of any medical conditions or pre-existing injuries (for example a shoulder weakness) that may be relevant and it is their responsibility to take the lead in deciding what action needs to be taken.
Slips, trips and falls / falling into the water / All members and participants / The canalside and pontoons are slippery, wet, uneven places. There is a risk of slips, trips and falls while getting onto and off the canal.
· A buoyancy aid must be worn when on or close to the water. For example on the pontoons.
· Sturdy shoes are advised for all paddlers.
Entrapment in closed cockpit kayak due to capsize / All members and participants / Whitewater kayaks use spray decks to seal the paddler into the cockpit.
· RCC members should not paddle with a spray deck unless they have performed a spray deck test. This test requires them to exit a boat with a spray deck using safe techniques. The test can be undertaken at the regular pool sessions.
· All RCC equipment is regularly checked. This includes the grab loops on club spray decks.
· The New Member induction initiated in May 2012 includes a ‘wet exit’ where members have to exit a boat and swim to the side. This is done under supervision by session leaders.
Injury / entrapment / drowning / All members and participants / Canoeing and kayaking are assumed risk, water contact sports that may carry attendant risks including injury or death.
· Members are aware that canoeing and kayaking are assumed risk sports that carry a risk of accident and injury.
· A buoyancy aid must be worn when on or close to the water.
· Members should be confident in water and able to swim at least 50 metres in light clothing.
· New members / inexperienced paddlers are advised to stay within the basin and in sight of the duty officer, especially when the weather is cold or it is dark.
· Members are encouraged not to paddle alone.
· Session leaders, coaches or the duty person may prevent anyone from paddling that they believe unfit to do so, or that they believe not of sufficient experience or skill to handle the conditions, or if to allow them onto the water may jeopardise the safety of themselves or others, or place unnecessary risks on others.
· The Club believes that training in safety awareness and practice is essential and will endeavour to organise appropriate courses from time to time during the year to include: a) Safety aspects of personal equipment b) Rescue skills c) First aid skills.
· All accidents, incidents or near misses must be reported to the RCC using the incident report form on the website. Details of any incident which results in injury requiring hospital attendance / treatment will also be passed to the British Canoe Union for their records on sports injuries and to note to the insurance company in case of any resulting claim.
Hypothermia / All members and participants / Canoeing and kayaking take place in water, often in cold weather conditions. RCC canal sessions take place throughout the year.
· The RCC website offers advice about appropriate clothing. On the water, many layers of man-made fibres are better than fewer thick layers or cotton / wool. Jeans are not suitable. After being on the canal paddlers are advised to have plenty of warm clothes to change into.
· The Club believes that training in safety awareness and practice is essential and will endeavour to organise appropriate courses from time to time during the year to include: a) Safety aspects of personal equipment b) Rescue skills c) First aid skills. This includes the ability to prevent, recognise and deal with signs of hypothermia.
Waterborne disease / All members and participants / In these environments there is a risk of waterborne disease or infection (for example; Weil’s Disease or Ecoli).
· All members are directed to read and understand the information on Leptospirios (Weil’s disease) available on the club website and accept the risks.
· Members to be made aware of advice regarding waterborne disease. For example, covering cuts and grazes and washing hands prior to eating.
· RCC hire equipment must be rinsed with clean fresh water after each activity before being returned to the club. Members are advised to do the same with their personal kit.
Allergic reaction / onset of illness / All members and participants / Members could suffer from an allergic reaction, asthma or any other pre-existing condition.
· As part of the membership process members are asked about pre-existing injuries. They are made aware that it is their duty to inform their coach, river leader or paddling partners of any medical conditions or pre-existing injuries (for example, asthma) that may be relevant and it is their responsibility to take the lead in deciding what action needs to be taken.
· Members are advised to have the appropriate medicines easily available (for example, inhaler).
· The Club believes that training in safety awareness and practice is essential and will endeavour to organise appropriate courses from time to time during the year to include: a) Safety aspects of personal equipment b) Rescue skills c) First aid skills. Several of the clubs leaders, coaches and members are trained in first aid.
Swans / All members and participants / There are several swans living in the canal basin. They can get aggressive especially when protecting their young.
· Members should be considerate towards the wildlife and not antagonise them.
· Members should keep well away from swans; sometimes this may involve getting out of the boat and walking along the towpath.
Injury from missiles on the canal / All members and participants / The canal is in an inner city area. Unfortunately sometimes missiles can be thrown at paddlers.
· Paddlers should be made aware of occasional verbal abuse and throwing of missiles by members of the public (usually young people).
· Paddlers to be encouraged not to paddle by themselves especially when dark and advised not to confront anyone shouting abuse or throwing things.
· Paddlers may borrow a helmet to wear whilst paddling on the canal if they wish.
· Police to be called if serious incident arises. Duty person has local police numbers in the duty folder.
Conflict with other canal users / All members and participants / The canal is well used by other boats and fishermen.
· People live on the barges moored along the canal. Members should take care not to bump into these and other craft to ensure we continue to get a welcome from our neighbours;