SAFETY SEMINAR

1. SAFETY SEMINAR Stuart Ward ARA Hon Water Safety Adviser Chairman ARA Water Safety Committee

2. My Background • Rowed since 1961 • Club Captain & President • Club Water Safety Adviser • Yorkshire Regional Water Safety Adviser • ARA Umpire • Organising Secretary of the Yorkshire Head • Club Coach – Project Oarsome • ARA Hon Water Safety Adviser since 2003 • Member of the National Water Safety Forum – Water Sports Advisory Group

3. What outcomes are we looking for from today’s seminar? To agree an effective way to develop and manage the culture of safe rowing practice in Wales

4. What do we mean by culture of safety? Safety on the Water – Safety in the Mind Who should be concerned? What is in it for us? The Clubs The Participants Competitions WARA ?

5. The Club - Has a duty of care towards its members, the public and other water users • How can the club fulfil its duty of care? • What organisation does the club need to have in place to fulfil its duty of care? • How can the club know know how well it is doing? Duty of Care was described by Lord Atkin in 1932 – “You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbor. “Who then is my neighbor? Someone who is so closely and directly affected by my acts or omissions that I ought to have them in mind when directing my mind to the acts or omissions which are called into question”.

6. What safety issues does a club need to address to fulfil its Duty of Care?

7. Safety issues for Clubs • Local risk assessment • Safety plan • Emergency action plan • Safety Adviser • Defined safety roles • Guidance for Coaches • Membership information • New member induction • Induction & Progress Log • Capsize training • Incident log book • Safety a permanent agenda item • Communication • Risk assessment training • Suspension of rowing activity • Safe equipment • Training Camp safety • Competition information • Trailer safety • First Aid/Resuscitation training • Launch driving • Safety Audit

8. How safe is my club? The Club Safety Audit • What is it? • What use is it? • Who is it for? • Who should undertake the audit? • When should it be undertaken? • How often should it be undertaken?

9. Organising Club Safety • Clubs have a responsibility for safety and the development of the culture of safety for their members. In this respect everyone has an important part to play and the Club Water Safety Adviser must not be seen as the only person responsible but rather the person who can advise the committee and work with the captain, officers, coaches and others to identify and respond to safety issues by adopting minimum standards and good practice. • The nature of clubs varies enormously and this dictates how a club manages safety and addresses the various issues. The approach of the Club Water Safety Adviser is therefore dictated by the way a specific club wishes to manage safety and adopt the minimum standards required.

10. Minimum Standards • Appoint a Club Water Safety Adviser and ensure they have a thorough understanding of the Row Safe Guidance documents. • Establish a team approach to manage safety in the Club • Have a working knowledge of the Row Safe Guidance document • Regularly assess the risks to the Club both on and off the water – referring to the ARA’s Row Safe Guide on Risk Assessment and Implement the findings. • Produce and communicate a Club Safety Plan (including an Emergency Action Plan) – referring to the ARA’s Row Safe Guide on Safety Plans • Conduct and submit an annual Club safety audit as required by the ARA. • Maintain an Incident/Accident log and complete Incident Forms as required by the ARA • If organising, or participating in, a Regatta or Processional Race comply with the ARA’s Row Safe Guide on Safety Plans • Maintain a prominent display of up-to-date safety information at the Club. • Be aware of day-to-day safety issues together with the results of any Risk Assessment and Safety Audit. • Develop contacts with local clubs, river users group and/or similar bodies, to assist in understanding and resolving areas of actual or potential conflict between users. • Establish and maintain contact with the Regional Water Safety Adviser (The ARA refers to the Club’s Regional Rowing Council) • Take due regard of any advice or direction provided by local navigation or other relevant water authority relating to local water or weather conditions and amend risk assessments and safety plans accordingly. • Exercise authority to suspend boating activities should the conditions dictate.

11. An organised club: • Is a Safe Club with policies in place • Retains and develops its membership • Retains and develops its volunteers • Supports and develops its pool of coaches

12. How can WARA fulfil and manage its Duty of Care ?

14. WARA’s role is to: • Provide advice and guidance to clubs • Develop safety awareness • Set minimum standards for safety • Monitor standards of safety • Educate and train clubs, coaches and competitions • Endorse safe competitions

15. Competitions Are they being run as safely as they can be ? Or Are they an accident waiting to happen?

16. Competition Safety Process Risk Assessment & Safety Plan produced or amended Event Organising Committee Safety Plan and competition organisation amended if necessary Not accepted WARA Events Committee reviews Safety Plan WARA Water Safety Adviser available to support Wash Up Competition takes place Feedback from competitors, Inspecting Commissioner, navigation authority, incident reports, competition Safety Adviser etc… Accepted

17. Action Plan for Clubs What areas need to be addressed? What is the order of priority? What target dates need to be applied?