RISK ASSESSMENT: Open Group - Rutland Meet, Rutland SC

DATE -CARRIED OUT: 13/4/2016 ASSESSMENT CARRIED OUT BY:

HAZARD WHO MIGHT BE HOW MAY THE RISK BE WHAT FURTHER ACTION Review comments HARMED? ADEQUATELY MAY BE REQUIRED? / review date CONTROLLED?

CAPSIZE, COLD WATER Canoe-Sailors and All sailors to wear Buoyancy Aid. Ensure all participants wear IMMERSION, other meet All sailors to have practised Buoyancy Aids, remind DROWNING participants. capsize recovery and be aware participants of other drowning of other hazards (entanglement, hazards during safety briefing. entrapment, impact of boom Participants to carry out personal during accidental gybes). Buddy dynamic risk assessments to system to be used by all minimize exposure to conditions participants during sailing likely to lead to capsize. activities. Advise use of VHF radios where available to coordinate mutual support. HYPOTHERMIA Canoe-Sailors and Advise on the correct clothing to Continuous individual dynamic other meet wear as required, remember to risk assessment to be carried out participants. dress for immersion-water by participants to adjust clothing temperature may be much according to conditions. Tailor lower than air temperature. sailing to prevailing weather Adjustment to clothing as conditions and reduce periods on required water if necessary. Carry food and Carry ditch bag/emergency bag hot drink in a flask. Be aware of with supplementary dry local topography and don't clothing. underestimate timescales required to return to campsite. SLIPS TRIPS AND Canoe-Sailors and Advise participants during safety Continuous individual dynamic FALLS other meet briefing. risk assessment to be carried out participants. by participants paying particular attention to slippery and uneven underfoot conditions encountered while launching and landing. MANUAL HANDLING Canoe-Sailors and Advise participants to ask for Continuous individual dynamic INJURIES. other meet help while loading/ unloading/ risk assessment to be carried out participants. moving and equipment. by participants and assistance Use trolleys to move canoes requested as required. whenever possible. POLLUTION AND Canoe-Sailors and Meet Organiser and Safety Risks higher in spate conditions WATER QUALITY other meet Advisor to check local conditions (runoff from agricultural land). participants. prior to meet and advise Avoid intentional capsizes in poor participants accordingly. conditions. Be aware of possibility of Blue/Green Algae. Consider wearing eye protection to avoid accidental splash contamination. Wash hands before eating. OTHER WATER USERS Canoe-Sailors and Participants to be advised of All participants aware of “rules of other meet hazards during safety briefing road” (reminder at briefing) but participants. (reservoir structures such as reminded that other water users towers, the dam, racing may not share knowledge. fleets, passenger launches, windsurfers and other boats etc). Be aware of other users on shared slipways/ water access points. There are nature reserves at each end of the water, marked by lines of buoys, which are no-go zones and must be avoided. Landing on any of the lakeshore is prohibited (apart from official landing zones, such as at the sailing club and the watersports centre) WEATHER AND Canoe-Sailors and Meet Organiser and Safety Participants to carry out dynamic ENVIRONMENTAL other meet Advisor to check weather risk assessments while on the CONDITIONS participants. forecast leading up to and water. Be prepared to reef early, during meet and give advice potentially adjust scale of sailing accordingly (consider advising aspirations according to local sailing/not sailing in conditions, competence and unfavourable conditions). capabilities/limitations of equipment. EQUIPMENT FAILURE Canoe-Sailors and All participants reminded to Participants to carry out dynamic other meet check equipment for individual risk assessments on participants. faults/wear and tear prior to equipment while on the water. going on the water. Ensure Participants to consider Buddy system is in use to allow contingency plans in the event of mutual support in the event of equipment failure while on the equipment failure. water (carry /spare paddle, practice in windy conditions, practice sailing while steering with a paddle in the event of rudder failure, carry spare parts and emergency repair equipment). ILLNESS OR INJURY Canoe-Sailors and Participants to carry individual Individual participants to carry WHILE SAILING other meet First Aid kits. Participants with our dynamic risk assessment participants. pre-existing medical conditions regarding their personal health to carry any medications that and fitness to carry out sailing may be required and consider activities in prevailing/predicted making meet officials and/or weather conditions with a view to fellow buddy group members not sailing if necessary. aware of their condition and any treatments that maybe required.