Analysis of Incidents Reported in 2019

Andrea Worley January 2020

1 All Incidents

2 All Incidents

Significant Incidents Simple Capsizes

744 829 804 604 610 430

1388 1196 1257 1316 993 1017

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Significant incidents = all except simple capsizes (most result in collisions or near collisions)

3 All Significant Incidents

4 Analysis of Significant Rowing Incidents by Cause - 2019 Significant accidents = all except simple capsizes (most result in collisions or near collisions)

Boats swept/blown off, 9 Non-use of lifejacket or Bike incident, 7 kill-cord, 9 No lights, 7 Equipment failure, 12 Poor lookout & poor navigation, 4 Trailer incident, 14 Clothing, 2 Non-adherence to navigation code & poor supervision, 14 Event inspection reports, 21

Launch incidents, 24

Other, 34 Health, 40 Going out in bad weather, 49 Poor steering 54 Poor lookout

Antisocial behaviour 480 55 Poor lookout & non- adherence to navigation code 82 Falls & other injuries Non-adherence to 93 Failure to navigation code Sample Size = 1316 check equipment 196 110 5 Comparison with previous years No lights Poor lookout & poor navigation Non-use of lifejacket or kill-cord Bike incident Boats swept/blown off Clothing Equipment failure Para-rower Capsize Trailer incident Non-adherence to navigation code & poor supervision 20182019 Event inspection reports 2018 2017 Launch incidents 2017 Other 2016 Health 2016 2015 Going out in bad weather 2015 Poor 2014 Poor steering 2014 lookout

Antisocial behaviour

Poor lookout & non-adherence to navigation code Falls & other Non- injuries adherence to Failure to navigation check code equipment 6 Trends in common causes of Significant Incidents Cause of Incidents – Percentage by Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Poor lookout 24% 28% 30% 33% 37% 36%

Non-adherence to navigation code 17% 18% 18% 14% 16% 15%

Failure to check equipment 5% 7% 6% 6% 8% 8%

Falls & other injuries 8% 7% 8% 8% 9% 7%

Poor lookout & non-adherence to nav. code 13% 10% 9% 10% 9% 6%

Antisocial behaviour 1% 1% 5% 4% 4% 4%

Poor steering 10% 6% 6% 5% 2% 4%

Going out in bad weather 4% 3% 3% 3% 2% 4%

Health 3% 5% 3% 4% 4% 3%

7 Trends in common causes of Significant Incidents

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0% POOR LOOKOUT NON-ADHERENCE FAILURE TO CHECK FALLS & OTHER POOR LOOKOUT & ANTISOCIAL POOR STEERING GOING OUT IN BAD HEALTH TO NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT INJURIES NON-ADHERENCE BEHAVIOUR WEATHER CODE TO NAVIGATION CODE

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

8 Significant Incidents by Cause 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Poor lookout 241 289 360 458 463 480 Non-adherence to navigation code 173 178 210 192 198 196 Failure to check equipment 49 75 71 82 98 110 Falls & other injuries 79 71 90 113 109 93 Poor lookout & non-adherence to navigation code 131 101 112 140 111 82 Antisocial behaviour 10 14 59 59 45 55 Poor steering 103 65 67 72 25 54 Going out in bad weather 43 26 33 45 22 49 Health 30 47 40 50 47 40 Other 11 13 13 34 17 34 Launch incidents 28 29 21 32 19 24 Event inspection reports 5 8 12 7 5 21 Non-adherence to navigation code & poor supervision 14 18 26 30 37 14 Trailer incident 8 6 6 11 16 14 Equipment failure 34 14 12 9 6 12 Boats swept/blown off 4 5 3 3 4 9 Non-use of lifejacket or kill-cord 7 4 19 14 5 9 Bike incident 1 4 6 7 3 7 No lights 7 19 22 14 12 7 Poor lookout & poor navigation 9 26 11 8 9 4 Clothing 3 3 0 2 3 2 Para-rower Capsize 3 2 3 6 3 0 Total9 Significant Incidents 993 1017 1196 1388 1257 1316 Significant Incidents by Cause 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Poor lookout 241 289 360 458 463 480 Non-adherence to navigation code 173 178 210 192 198 196 Failure to check equipment 49 75 71 82 98 110 Falls & other injuries 79 71 90 113 109 93 Poor lookout & non-adherence to navigation code 131 101 112 140 111 82 Antisocial behaviour 10 14 59 59 45 55 Poor steering Red = Cause103 is65 67 72 25 54 Going out in bad weather 43 26 33 45 22 49 Health Behaviour related30 47 40 50 47 40 Other causes 11 13 13 34 17 34 Launch incidents 28 29 21 32 19 24 Event inspection reports 5 8 12 7 5 21 Non-adherence to navigation code & poor supervision 14 18 26 30 37 14 Trailer incident 8 6 6 11 16 14 Equipment failure But some of34 the 14 12 9 6 12 Boats swept/blown off 4 5 3 3 4 9 Non-use of lifejacket or kill-cord others can also7 be4 19 14 5 9 Bike incident 1 4 6 7 3 7 No lights related to Behaviour7 19 22 14 12 7 Poor lookout & poor navigation 9 26 11 8 9 4 Clothing 3 3 0 2 3 2 Para-rower Capsize 3 2 3 6 3 0 Total10 Significant Incidents 993 1017 1196 1388 1257 1316 Behaviour In each of the past 6 years, over 92% of significant incidents could have been avoided by safer behaviour.

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 92% 92% 94% 94% 94% 92%

In 2019, there was a fall in the proportion of significant incidents that could have been avoided by: • Keeping a good lookout • Adhering to the navigation code This is mainly due to a reduction of 26% in the number of incidents caused by failing to keep a good lookout and adhere to the navigation code at the same time. 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 55% 56% 57% 57% 62% 58%

11 Common Behaviour-related Causes of Incidents

The most common behaviour related incidents continue to be: • Not keeping a good lookout (on land as well as on water) • Not adhering to the navigation code • Failure to check equipment • Antisocial behaviour In 2019 these accounted for over 77% of incidents in 2019, compared with over 80% in 2018.

12 Near Misses 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 155 (16%) 174 (17%) 272 (23%) 180 (13%) 186 (15%) 154 (12%)

Note: These incidents are included in various categories of reported Significant Incidents

Near Misses include: • Near Collisions due to • Poor lookout • Non-adherence to navigation code • Poor steering • Creating excessive wash • Verbal abuse • Not wearing a lifejacket or kill-cord • Event inspections

13 Harm resulting from Significant Incidents

14 Harm caused to people Harm to People 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 caused by Significant Incidents No harm 821 823 989 1131 1010 1112

Minor injuries such as cuts and bruises 75 82 104 124 85 89

Significant injuries - few days off rowing 64 60 57 61 101 46 Serious injuries - week or more off rowing 33 51 42 67 59 67 inc. concussion & broken bones Fatalities 1 4 1 2 2 Total 993 1017 1196 1384 1257 1316

In 2019, there was a sharp decrease in injuries resulting in a few days off rowing and an increase in more serious injuries requiring a week or more off rowing. The fatalities in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were all tragic health related incidents.

15 Causes of 2019 Significant Incidents resulting in any time off rowing

Bike incident, 2 Non-adherence to navigation Boats swept/blown off, 1 code & poor supervision, 1 No lights, 1

Other, 5 Poor lookout Non-adherence to navigation code, 8 9

Failure to check equipment, 2 Health Going out in bad weather, 1 24

Poor steering, 2 Falls & other injuries 49 Antisocial behaviour, 2

Poor lookout & non-adherence to Number of Incidents = 113 navigation code, 6 Does not include fatalities

16 Causes of 2019 Incidents resulting in one week or more off rowing

Boats swept/blown off, 1 Bike incident, 1 No lights, 1 Poor lookout , 4 Non-adherence to navigation Other, 2 code, 5

Failure to check equipment, 1

Health 16

Falls & other Going out in bad weather, 1 injuries 28 Poor steering, 2

Poor lookout & non-adherence to navigation code, 5 Number of Incidents = 67 Does not include fatalities

17 Causes of 2018 & 2019 Incidents resulting in one week or more off rowing

2018 2019 Bike incident, 1 No lights, 1 Non-adherence to Boats swept/blown local code and off, 1 Poor lookout , 4 poor supervision, Poor steering, 1 1 Non-adherence to Other, 2 navigation code, 5

Health Poor lookout Non- 8 Failure to 10 adherence check Failure to check to local equipment, 1 equipment, 1 code Health 6 16 Going out in bad Falls & other weather, 1 injuries Falls and 28 other injuries Poor lookout and Poor steering, 2 31 non-adherence to local code 1 Poor lookout & non-adherence to navigation code, 5

Number of Incidents = 59 Does not include fatalities Number of Incidents = 67 Does not include fatalities

18 Damage caused to property Damage to Property caused by Significant 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Incidents No damage 691 754 830 928 870 941 Repairs costing less than £100 119 89 86 143 150 92 Repairs costing £100 to £1000 114 124 233 277 212 246 Repairs costing over £1000 63 42 40 33 21 31 Loss of boat 6 7 6 3 2 6 Damage to cars, boathouse etc. 0 1 1 2 Total Significant Incidents 993 1017 1196 1384 1257 1316 Total Value of damage £290,000 £230,000 £270,000 £225,000 £245,000 £230,000

In 2019, on average, £4,400 worth of damage was caused to boats and equipment each week.

19 Causes of 2019 Incidents resulting more than £1000 damage Boats swept/blown off, 1 Non-adherence to navigation code & poor supervision, 2

Trailer incident Launch incidents, 1 3

Poor lookout Going out in 13 bad weather, 2

Poor steering, 3

Poor Antisocial lookout & behaviour non- Failure to check 3 adherence equipment to 5 navigation Number of Incidents = 37 code 4

20 Collisions

21 Collisions

786 782 739 654 568 572

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Collisions in 2019 and 2018 were with: 2019 2018 2019 2018 Other rowing boats 437 389 Bank 23 22 Powered craft 50 56 Unpowered craft 20 15 Buoy 45 53 Moored boat 19 45 Trees/Bushes/Reeds 42 35 Bridges/Barrages 18 12 Weed 33 27 Logs/Floating debris 14 18 Submerged object inc. Grounding 29 27 Post 14 10 Pontoon 26 20 Swans/Geese 4 6

22 Injuries resulting from Collisions - 2019

Harm to People caused by Collisions 2019 2018 No harm 711 641 Minor injuries such as cuts and bruises 43 50 Significant injuries - few days off rowing 9 28 Serious injuries - week or more off rowing 19 20 includes concussion & broken bones Total 782 739

In 2019, 90% of the Collisions resulting in Serious Injuries were with other rowing boats

23 Damage resulting from Collisions – 2019 & 2018

Damage to Boats caused by 2019 2018 Collisions Value Number Value Number No damage £0 454 £0 398 Repairs costing less than £100 £5,733 81 £8,411 136 Repairs costing £100 to £1000 £84,306 217 £70,177 187 Repairs costing over £1000 £59,317 25 £56,920 16 Loss of boat £47,000 5 £43,000 2 Total £196,356 782 £178,508 739

50% of the Collisions resulting in more than £1000 worth of damage or the loss of a boat were with other rowing boats

24 Falls and Other Injuries

25 Trends in Falls and Other Injuries

113 109 98 90 79 71

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

26 Falls and Other Injuries

Injury Type No Harm Minor Significant Serious – Total Injuries – few days >1 week off rowing off rowing Cuts & Bruises 14 16 6 36 Broken bones 11 11 Trauma Muscular 1 3 4 Concussion & other head injuries 5 2 5 12 Sprains & ligament injuries 1 1 2 Trauma Skeletal 2 2 2 6 Other 20 1 1 22 Total 20 24 20 29 93

27 Falls and Other Injuries – where the 29 serious injuries occurred

Where they occurred Number Pontoon/Boating area 8 Handling boats on land 8 On water – rowing or in launch 4 Tow path 3 Launch handling on land 2 Land training 2 Boathouse 1 Car park 1 Total 29

• 11 serious incidents resulted in broken bones, 5 of these incidents occurred when handling boats on land, 3 occurred on the two path, 2 in the boating area and 1 on water. • 3 serious incidents resulted in concussion 1 occurred in the gym, 1 on the landing stage and 1 on water. • Incidents causing broken bones and concussion typically result in many weeks off rowing and work.

28 Capsizes

29 Causes of Capsizes

Cause of Capsize Number

Simple Capsize (does not include Capsize Drills) 804 Failure to check equipment 92 Antisocial Behaviour 14 Going out in bad weather 10 Other causes 9 Non-adherence to navigation code 2 Clothing 1 Health 1 Poor steering 1 Total 934

Simple Capsize is a capsize due to a simple technique mistake or competence issue. Simple Capsize does not include Capsizes where there was an external cause (e.g. weed or collision), injury, failure to check equipment, damage to equipment or equipment failure. Reports should not be made when doing a capsize drills and the capsize is expected.

30 Trends in Simple Capsizes

829 804 744 610 604 430

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

The most common reasons for Simple Capsizes in 2019 were:

Practising Drills (not including Capsize Drills) 120 Turning/Manoeuvring 53 Capsizing while boating or landing 52 Letting go of the blades 34

31 Rescues

32 Members of the public rescued by rowers In 2019 there were two rescues by rowers. In February, Henry Jackson and Alfie England of the Royal Agricultural University B.C. rescued a man who had fallen into a canal. They got him out of the water and resuscitated him as he had stopped breathing. In June, Robert Parker and Anita Lowe of Boston R.C. rescued and resuscitated a man found floating face down in the river near the club. Stephen Worley, HRSA, nominated all four for Royal Humane Society Awards. The following awards were conferred: Henry Jackson – Testimonial on Parchment and Resuscitation Certificate Alfie England - Testimonial on Parchment Robert Parker - Testimonial on Parchment Anita Lowe - Resuscitation Certificate

33 Summary

34 A note from the HRSA “Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to report incidents. These reports help us to identify opportunities for improvement and to provide advice to clubs, rowers and events that is appropriate and relevant. For the last 3 years British Rowing has recognised and congratulated the top five clubs that made the largest contribution to the Incident Reporting system, for their positive approach to safety. Please continue to report incidents however trivial they may appear. More reports does not mean that our sport is less safe, it means that we are working together to improve rowing safety.”

Stephen Worley Honorary Rowing Safety Adviser

35 Top 5 Clubs reporting Incidents in 2019

Incidents Position Club reported 1 Lea RC 74 2 Avon County RC 51 3 Putney Town RC 47 4 Marlow RC 42 5 Christchurch RC 41

36 How can we make rowing safer? The most common incidents are collisions and many incidents on land result in serious injuries. • Be careful on land as well as on the water • Falls and other injuries account for over 40% of serious incidents • Keep a good lookout on water • Collisions account for almost 30% of serious incidents • Know and abide by the local navigation plan • 15% of serious injuries resulted from not following the navigation plan • Don’t assume that other water users are keeping a good lookout and following the navigation plan • Take care on land, wear suitable footwear to avoids slips, keep pontoons clean and apply non-slip coatings if appropriate Serious incidents = incidents requiring more than one week off rowing

37 Regional Summaries

38 East Midlands - 2019

Boats swept/blown off, 1 Bike Incident, 1

Equipment failure, 1 Clothing, 1 Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents Other, 3 Going out in bad Leicester RC 33 weather, 1 Derby RC 17 Poor steering, 1 Health, 4 Lincoln Rowing Centre 15 Antisocial Behaviour, 3 Derwent RC 13

Poor lookout 11 Poor lookout & non-adherence to 36 Burton Leander RC 8 navigation code, 7 Loughborough BC 8 Falls & other injuries Boston RC 6 5 Devil's Elbow Rowing Club 5 Failure to check equipment Nottingham & Union RC 5 11 Non-adherence to Trent RC 5 navigation code 13 The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019

39 Eastern - 2019 Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents Equipment failure, 3 Boats swept/blown off, 2 Lea RC 73

Trailer incident, 6 Non-use of lifejacket or kill-cord, 1 Cambridge 99 RC 24 Non-adherence to navigation Bike Incident, 2 23 code & poor supervision, 3 No lights, 1 Camrowers 19 Launch incidents, 2 Milton Keynes Rowing Club 17 St Neots RC 16 Other, 8 Bedford Girls School RC 15 Health, 3 Going out in bad West Norfolk Rowing Club 15 weather, 5 Oundle Town RC 13 Yare BC 12 Poor steering, 10 Bedford School BC 10 Bedford RC 9 Antisocial Poor lookout Behaviour, 11 Deben RC 9 101 St Ives RC 9 Broadland BC 8 Isle Of Ely RC 8

Poor lookout & non- Falls & other Queens' College (Cambridge) BC 7 adherence to navigation injuries 7 18 code, 18 Northampton RC 6 Failure to check Non-adherence to Bedford Modern School BC 5 equipment navigation code 24 Broxbourne RC 5 29 Cambridge City RC 5 The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for 40 reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019 North West - 2019 Equipment failure, 2 Boats swept/blown off, 1 Bike Incident, 1

Trailer incident, 1 Poor lookout & poor navigation, 1 Non-adherence to Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents navigation code & poor supervision, 1 Liverpool Victoria RC 20 Event Inspection, 2 Northwich RC 11 Launch incidents, 2 Warrington RC 10 Other, 2 Grosvenor RC, Chester 9 Royal Chester RC 9

Going out in bad Health Poor lookout Grange School RC 7 weather, 2 3 21 Lancaster John O'Gaunt RC 7 Runcorn RC 7 Trentham BC 7 Kings School Chester RC 6 Poor steering, 2 Lancaster Royal Grammar School BC 6 Poor lookout & North Staffordshire RC 5 non-adherence to Non-adherence navigation code to navigation Trafford RC 5 Antisocial 7 code Behaviour, 1 Failure to 12 check The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for equipment reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019 Falls & other injuries, 3 8

41 Northern - 2019 Non-adherence to navigation code & poor supervision, 1 Bike Incident, 2

Launch incidents, 3 No lights, 2 Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents Other, 3 Durham ARC 22 Going out in bad 19 weather, 4 Health, 4 Tyne Amateur RC 19 Poor steering, 3 Talkin Tarn ARC 18 Lakeland Rowing Club 13 Poor lookout 33 Durham University BC 11 Cambois Rowing Club 6 Collingwood College BC 6 Antisocial Behaviour Hatfield College BC 6 9 Hexham RC 6 Newcastle University BC 5 Sunderland City RC 5 Non-adherence to navigation Falls & code other Failure to 12 The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for injuries, Poor lookout & check reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019 non-adherence to 6 equipment navigation code, 6 8

42 Thames - 2019 Non-use of lifejacket or kill- Trailer incident, 4 Equipment failure, 6 Boats swept/blown cord, 5 Bike Incident, 1 off, 5 No lights, 3 Non-adherence to navigation code & poor supervision, 9 Clothing, 2 Launch incidents, 7

Other, 7

Health, 15

Going out in bad weather, 21 Poor steering, 25

Antisocial Poor lookout , 208 Behaviour, 24

Poor lookout & non- adherence to navigation code, 42

Non-adherence to Falls & other injuries, 27 navigation code 106

Failure to check equipment, 37

43 Fulham Reach Boat Club 9 Thames – Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents 9 Putney Town RC 47 St Pauls Girls School BC 9 Marlow RC 42 Goring Gap BC 8 Gravesend RC 32 Mortlake Anglian & Alpha BC 8 Bewl Bridge RC 23 St Pauls School BC 8 Latymer Upper School BC 22 Vesta RC 8 22 Abingdon RC 7 20 Barnes Bridge Ladies RC 7 City of Oxford RC 19 Oxford Academicals RC 7 Team Keane Sculling School 17 Barn Elms RC 6 Burway RC 13 Medway Towns RC 6 London Youth Rowing 13 6 Emanuel School BC 12 Reading University BC 6 LYR Tradesmen 12 Sir William Perkins's School RC 6 Quintin BC 12 6 12 5 Kingston RC 11 Hampton School BC 5 11 5 Ardingly RC 10 Maidstone Invicta RC 5 Auriol Kensington RC 10 RAF RC 5 Guildford RC 10 University Of London BC 5 Maidenhead RC 10 5 Twickenham RC 10 Weybridge Ladies ARC 5

The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for 44 reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019 WAGS - 2019Other, 1 Event Inspection, 2 Health, 2 No lights, 1 Poor steering, 3

Antisocial Behaviour, 4

Poor lookout & non- adherence to Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents navigation code, 6 Avon County RC 48 Taunton RC 32 City of Bristol Rowing Club 21 Poor lookout Gloucester RC 8 37 Minerva Bath RC 8 Falls & other injuries Bristol Ariel RC 5 11

Failure to check equipment 8 Non-adherence to navigation code The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for 14 reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019

45 Wessex & S.E. Coast – 2019 Non-use of lifejacket or kill-cord, 1 Poor lookout & poor navigation, 1 Trailer incident, 3

Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents

Christchurch RC 41

Launch incidents, 2 Event Inspection Poor lookout Itchen Imperial RC 16 14 24 Lymington ARC 13 Bournemouth Collegiate School 7 Shoreham RC 6

Other, 4 BTC Southampton RC 5 Non-adherence to Southsea Rowing Club 5 Health, 4 navigation code, 7

Going out in bad weather, 5 Failure to check equipment, 9 Poor steering Antisocial 7 Falls & other Behaviour, 3 injuries The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for 11 Poor lookout & non-adherence reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019 to navigation code, 1

46 West Midlands - 2019 Other, 1 Launch incidents, 1 Going out in bad weather, 3

Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents Poor steering, 2 Health 3 Worcester University RC 17 Stratford-upon-Avon BC 14 Antisocial Behaviour, Birmingham University BC 13 1 12 Poor lookout Warwick Boat Club 12 17 Pengwern BC 8 Royal Grammar School Worcester BC 7 Ironbridge Rowing Club 5 Falls & other injuries, 4 Poor lookout & non- adherence to navigation code, 1 Failure to check equipment Non-adherence 10 to navigation code, 4 The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019

47 Western - 2019Poor lookout & poor navigation, 2 Bike Incident, 1

Boats swept/blown off, 1 Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents

Dart Totnes RC 12 Castle Dore RC 10 Other, 2 Exeter University BC 8 Greenbank Falmouth RC 6

Health, 2 Poor lookout 14

Poor steering 2 Going out in bad weather, 1 Falls & other injuries Non-adherence 3 to navigation code The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for 5 reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019

48 Yorkshire - 2019 Launch incidents, 1 Other, 1 Equipment failure, 1

Health, 1

Going out in bad weather, 2 Clubs reporting 5 or more incidents Antisocial Behaviour, 1 Bradford ARC 11 Sheffield City RC 10 Sheffield University RC 5 Poor lookout York City RC 5 14 Poor lookout & non- adherence to navigation code, 1 Falls & other injuries 5

Non- Failure to adherence to check navigation equipment The clubs shown in the table should all be congratulated for code 3 reporting 5 or more incidents in 2019 3

49 Further Analysis

This presentation provides a summary of the data collected in 2018 in the British Rowing Incident Reporting system.

Further analysis can be provided. If you require more detailed analysis on any topic, e.g. regional analysis, please ask and, if possible, it will be provided.

Please email [email protected]

50 Thank you

51