Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007

Canoeing/Kayaking: RBA 007 RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS REVIEWED BY Lisa Gunton/ Phil Harris DATE: September 2017

Generic Risks Risks Control Measures Benefits Injury from lifting /  Clear instruction and explanation by Instructor  Group involvement from rack/trailer -  Instructor supervises and assists  Teamwork -Communication falling on young  Limited number of being lifted into or from rack/trailer at any one time people closed cockpit kayak and  Clear instruction and explanation by Instructor  Skills Progression entrapment in upturned  Correct footwear worn to prevent entrapment in kayak  BCU Awards craft  Clear instructions given on correct method of exit from capsize position  Increase confidence  Practice capsizes are demonstrated on bank

Injuries resulting from  Clear instruction and explanation by Instructor  Use of games to aid being hit by  Participants are required to carry carefully. learning  Care when breaking up rafts  Create fun session  Helmets Worn where appropriate  Ideal for younger Children

Puncture and lacerations  Potential hazards to be highlighted at the beginning of the session  Generic benefits through caused from glass and  Suitable footwear to be worn participation other sharp objects

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007 Site Specific Risks

Bristol Harbour Risks Control Measures Benefits Slipping / tripping, whilst  Walkways are designed to be non slippery in wet conditions  Generic benefits through carrying boats from rack  Young people are required to carry boats in pairs or fours dependent on age participation to pontoon at water’s  Skills Progression edge.  BCU Awards  Increase confidence

Clevedon Marine Lake

Risks Control Measures Benefits Collision between  Instructor to watch and inform group if there are any swimmers in the water  Generic benefits through canoeist and swimmers  Swimmers on kayak/canoe sessions limited to that required following a capsize participation weather deliberate or accidental  Skills Progression  BCU Awards Increase confidence Slipping /tripping whilst  Walkways are designed to be non slippery in wet conditions  Generic benefits through carrying boats from store  Young people are required to carry boats in pairs or fours dependent on age participation to marine lake.  Instructor to inform groups that slipway can be slippery not to walk down carry  Skills Progression Slipping on slipway boats  BCU Awards  Increase confidence Weather/ tides  Severe weather at high tide, If waves are braking over the sea wall group must  Generic benefits through not go onto the lake. participation  During windy conditions shelter can be found down at far end on the marine lake  Skills Progression  BCU Awards  Increase confidence

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007

Puncture and lacerations  Potential hazards to be highlighted at the beginning of the session  Generic benefits through caused from glass and  Suitable footwear to be worn participation other sharp objects Health risks due dogs  Instructor inform group of the hazard and inform group to wash Hands after  Generic benefits through mess on walk ways participation  Instructor to check area of walk way that group is using.

White water/Weirs Risks Control Measures Benefits Hypothermia / Heat  Refer to RBA006 hypothermia/ hyperthermia  Generic benefits exhaustion/ Hyperthermia through participation  Skills Progression  BCU Awards  Increase confidence in White water  Briefing given on correct way to swim in moving water and training.  Generic benefits through Impact on rocks, Foot  Training in rescue methods. participation entrapment.  Use of appropriate boats.  Skills Progression Caught in strainers.  Knowledge and awareness of river and any recent changes or specific  BCU Awards Held in stoppers/ Siphons. .  Increase confidence  Instructor knowledge of emergency procedure and equipment (see SOP’S).  Instructors ensure participants helmets are fitted correctly on moving water/ and at discretion of instructor for sea except if rock hopping.

Broach or pins of or  Briefing and training.  Generic benefits through person  Use of appropriate boats. participation  Instructors carry appropriate rescue kit e.g. throw lines, crabs.  Skills Progression  BCU Awards  Increase confidence Weirs, Bridges, Stanchions  See SOP’S.  Generic benefits through  Instructor brief group on river signals and manages the group on approach participation to rapids, weirs, bridges.  Skills Progression

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007

 Trips / expectations appropriate to group. If weir / rapid inappropriate,  BCU Awards manage accordingly. Prior knowledge where necessary.  Increase confidence

River level, Flooding  Relevant checks in accordance with SOP’s on river levels and flooding.  Generic benefits through  Dynamic risk assessment by instructors throughout the trip. participation  Instructor to have prior knowledge of the water.  Skills Progression  BCU Awards  Increase confidence

Additional Off Site Specific Risks Location

River EXE Bolham to Tiverton and Bickleigh

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007

Risks Control Measures Benefits Bridges  Refer to white water risks assessment and operations Rapids grade 2  Bolhum weir should not be run in high water check weir before running.  Generic benefits through Weirs to Tiverton 4  Salmon steps weir care taken and check weir before running. Care participation Weirs to Bickleigh 2 taken in medium do not run in high water, instructor to be aware a long  Skills Progression swim can be taken from stopper just below weir. Not appropriate for  BCU Awards opens unless fairly confident paddlers  Increase confidence  Town weir large waves in high water, care take a paddle can have long  Leader ship skills swim also fairly shallow if capsize happens. progression  Weirs after Bickleigh Brocken weir has metal stakes in places in low water walk around. Instructor to check for trees below before paddling  Bickleigh weir do not paddle in high water and be aware that exit is on left just after weir. Instructor not to get of water until all participants are of.  Bridge just after Bolham weir, take care as wood has been known to block bridge. Instructor needs to check bridge before group passes through.  Generic benefits through Access and Egress  Access track down to river. Sloped bank to get in, short carry along participation gravel track, instructors to be aware when group getting in, potential of  Skills Progression strainer on river bank if water flowing.  BCU Awards  Egress Tiverton, Concrete slope, gate to carry boats over busy road to  Increased confidence cross with boats  Egress Bickleigh

River Wye Kern Bridge to Symonds Yat

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007 Ross to Kern Bridge Symonds Yat to Monmouth

Risks Control Measures Benefits Bridges  Refer to white water risks assessment and operations Rapids grade 2  Generic benefits through participation  Skills Progression  BCU Awards Increase confidence  Generic benefits through Access and Egress  Ross on Wye easy get in across field and stone platform to get into river participation  Kern bridge and Symonds Yat steep steps in and out of river at least two  Skills Progression people carrying boats.  BCU Awards  Monmouth club Set of 6 small steps for egress  Increased confidence Care taken if wet. No jumping off landing and egress unless depth has been checked. Seal launch points on Wye can be used but need to make sure no one below and no strainers below. No one to go down without a kayak.

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007

River Wye Glasbury to Hay on Wye UKCC / BCU Level 2 coach and above.

Risks Control Measures Benefits Small rapids below grade 2  Refer to white water risks assessment and operations.  A few obvious minor strainers to be aware of on river banks.  Generic benefits through participation  Skills Progression  BCU Awards Increase confidence  Generic benefits through Access and Egress Access at Glasbury is calm and simple from the scout hall car park below participation the bridge. Large beach to launch from at normal summer levels. If high  Skills Progression water levels then dynamic RBA must assess if paddle is suitable for group.  BCU Awards  Increased confidence Get out above bridge river left at ‘want to canoe’ straight forward in large eddy below Island.(Want To Canoe require prior arrangement. 01497 820604)

Get out at Hay car park river right below bridge has little or no eddy. Assistant ideally get off water prior to group and give directions from bank with throwline prepared. If get off is missed then it can be awkward to paddle back up river. Car Park can become crowded at busy periods.

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007

LOWER DART DART COUNTRY PART TO BUCKFASTLEY Risks Control Measures Benefits Bridges and weirs See white water risk assessment and operations Progression and Skills Two bridges on river trip Education Weir at Buckfastleigh can be run in low water on the far right this will be depend on the BCU awards group’s ability (Do not run in high water or on the left at any level) Increased confidence

Access /Egress Long carry with boats over rough ground need to carry kayaks in pairs Progression and Skills Wooden Steps down to water Education Steep slope kayaks needed to be pulled up by road, care taken when climbing up slope BCU awards as it become slippery if wet. Increased confidence Care taken crossing the road with boats group supervised doing this. Trailer parked in layby care taken when loading and tying on boats on side next to the road.

River USK

Aberbran to Brecon

Risks Control Measures Access and Egress See control measures white water risk assessment Progression and Skills Farmers field at start carrying boats over rough Education ground. Entry to river gravel bank BCU awards Egress Car park ramp build where take out is Increased confidence

Weir after take out long section of flat water Instructor to be clear about where the get out is Progression and Skills before weir and to make sure all group are of the water Education Do not shoot this weir access not allowed to this before the instructor get off the water. BCU awards 3 star skills

Canoeing/Kayaking RBA007 Rapids See control measures Increased confidence

Exe Loop from EUBC university boat club Risks Control Measures Estuary tides, winds, group getting separated Instructor to Know tide times and effect of wind Progression and Skills taken wrong way by tide or stranded on tides, effect of wind on waves (fetch). Education Instructors to know where sand banks might BCU awards appear Increased confidence Other boats on water Instructor to know markings for boat lanes on water and stay near the edges.

Access and egress carrying around locks Group to carry boats in pairs and help each other to get in and out of kayaks Hypothermia Refer to white water risk assessment

Exe canal from University Canoe Club

Risks Control Measures Winds can make it difficult to paddle for novice Instructor to Know weather forecast Progression and Skills paddlers Education Possible entanglement in weeds in event of a Instructor to make sure that if teaching skills that BCU awards capsize could cause capsizes water reasonable clear of Increased confidence weeds. Other boats Very little powered boat traffic on this canal but instructor should keep an eye out and move to the side out of the way. Access and egress Group to carry boats in pairs and help each other Portaging around locks to get in and out of kayaks