Risk Assessment for Salford Rowing Centre

Purpose

This risk assessment considers the hazards for Canoe Avon activities based at the Salford Rowing Centre including use of the River Avon downstream of Weston Lock and upstream of Swineford Lock. Club members should take the actions identified in this risk assessment to reduce the risk of injury arising from these hazards. Where a coach or club official needs to take a specific action, the responsible person is identified.

Club members and others involved in the club’s activities should note that the dynamic and varied nature of the club’s paddlesport activities does not allow a completely comprehensive risk assessment to be made. All members are advised to assess risks before setting out on the water, consider environmental factors, their skill level relative to the water and other conditions, equipment needs, clothing and the capability of those they are paddling with. Paddlers, particularly those leading groups, should carry out their own informal and dynamic risk assessments before and during any paddlesport activity, continuously assessing risks and taking appropriate mitigating actions.

Review/Revision History

Risk Assessment – Activities on the Water

Poor / damaged equipment

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Medium

Actions:

1. Visually inspect all equipment before going onto the water to ensure that it is safe to use. Defective equipment shall be reported by logging it in the defective equipment log (located in the Equipment Fault & Incident folder in the main boat shed), and ideally quarantined or labelled to indicate that it is defective.

2. The club Quartermaster is responsible for ensuring that the condition of all club equipment is checked regularly (at least annually) in accordance with British Canoeing’s ‘Paddlesafer’ guidance. Unsafe equipment shall be disposed of.

Air and water temperatures leading to hypothermia or hyperthermia

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Medium

Actions:

1. Correct clothing to be worn for the conditions.
2. Group members to monitor each other.
3. Consider conditions when practicing capsize drills and timing within the session, e.g. leave to end of session and perform them close to the club house.
4. Consider limiting the distance paddled from club house.
5. Choose more stable boats.

Drowning

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Bank-based observers (e.g. parents)

Residual Risk: Medium

Actions:

1. Paddlers shall observe the river flow and check that conditions are suitable for their proficiency before going onto the water. If fast moving, consider not paddling. River level information at Saltford can be found here or here. Flows at less than 0.8 m are regarded as “placid”. Higher levels should be treated with caution regardless of ability (at 1.1 m the water is lapping over the concrete banking by the pontoons).

2. All paddlers must be able to swim at least 20 metres.

3. All paddlers must wear a correctly fitted buoyancy aid. However, experienced adult K1/K2 paddlers may choose not to wear a buoyancy aid under the circumstances listed in Section 5.3 of the club’s Standard Operating Procedures.

4. A buoyancy aid must be worn by non-paddlers if assisting others entering / exiting craft.

5. Coaches running courses and adults supervising junior members shall ensure buoyancy aids are fitted correctly before going onto the water. Other members shall ensure that their own buoyancy aids are fitted correctly. Anyone should intervene if they notice an incorrectly fitted buoyancy aids.

6. Check the condition of craft before placing it on the water, including correct placement of bungs and hatches if fitted.

7. Do not paddle close to the sluice at Weston Lock.

8. Do not paddle close to Swineford Weir nor attempt cross it (it has a concrete sill and there have been paddling fatalities).

9. The following shall apply to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) users for avoiding becoming separated from their board if they fall off:

   • A leash may be used when paddling in the vicinity of the clubhouse or upstream of it and water levels are less than 0.8 m.

   • A leash shall be used in windy conditions when paddling in the vicinity of the clubhouse or upstream of it and water levels are less than 0.8 m.

   • A waist leash with quick-release (a kayak towline would be a suitable improvisation) shall be used when water levels are higher than 0.8 m or when paddling in the vicinity of weirs – this is to avoid danger associated with snagging and entanglement on obstacles.

10. The club Quartermaster is responsible for ensuring that the condition of all club buoyancy aids is checked regularly (at least annually and recorded) in accordance with British Canoeing’s ‘Paddlesafer’ guidance. Deficient buoyancy aids shall be destroyed.

Collision with other river users including rowing boats, power boats and pleasure craft

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Rowers, Other river users

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Keep as far to the right-hand side of the river (as defined by the direction of the paddler’s travel) as practicable.

2. Look out for anglers on the right bank when travelling upstream from the boathouse and avoid fishing lines (the open fishing season is 15th June to 15th March).

3. Keep clear of stationary boats and pass as quickly as possible.

4. Keep a good lookout in all directions at all times for other river users and try to steer clear of them.

5. Stay clear of other boats when overtaking. Waterway authorities guidance is that overtaking usually takes place on the left (i.e. by moving to the centre of the river) and returning to the right bank after passing the overtaken boat. Paddlers may choose an alternative course based on their own assessment of the situation and any obstacles (e.g. a stationary rowing boat in the centre of the river).

Injury during activities

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Carry out warm-up exercises before beginning paddling activities.

2. Wear helmets during rescue practices, capsize drills and games, when practicing rolling and seal launching from height, during warm-up exercises and other activities where there is a risk of head injury.

Locks

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Do not paddle into locks (strong currents can destabilise paddlers leading to capsize and a high risk of drowning).

2. Look out for pleasure boats wanting to use landing stages.

3. Hold handrail on lock gates when crossing a lock.

4. Look out for slip and trip hazards when portaging, e.g. steps, mooring ropes, bollards, raised bricks.

5. Point out to the rest of the group any other hazards that are observed (e.g. structural damage) and take appropriate action to reduce the risk of injury.

Weirs

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Medium

Actions:

1. Helmets and buoyancy aids must be worn when paddling over and in weirs.

2. Do not paddle over weirs unless accompanied by at least one other paddler with competent rescue skills.

3. Avoid paddling over weirs in high flow conditions.

4. Do not paddle over Swineford Weir.

5. Inexperienced paddlers to be coached in the required skills and awareness.

Water borne diseases and pollution

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Cover any open wounds with a waterproof plaster before going onto the water.

2. Always wear footwear to avoid cutting the feet.

3. Avoid ingesting water.

4. Avoid rubbing eyes, nose and mouth.

5. Thoroughly clean any cut, scratch or abrasion obtained during paddlesport activity.

6. Wash hands and face before taking food or drink.

7. Paddlers are encouraged to shower soon after paddling, particularly if they have capsized.

Darkness

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Schedule activities such that paddlers are off the water before darkness falls.

2. Avoid paddling after dusk.

3. Planned night paddles shall be covered by an event-specific risk assessment.

Lone Paddling

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. It is recommended that you paddle in a group but it is recognised that some paddlers may wish paddle alone. Members choosing to paddle alone must comply with the conditions for lone paddling stipulated in the club’s Standard Operating Procedures.

Pre-existing Illness / Medical Condition

Who might be harmed: Paddlers

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Paddlers with health conditions (e.g. asthma, epilepsy, diabetes…) that could affect their ability to participate in paddlesport activities should notify the club Welfare Officer or a coach (in confidence) before undertaking any paddling. It may be helpful to tell others in a paddling group if you carry medical appliances, e.g. an inhaler or auto-injector.

COVID-19 Coronavirus

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Other river users, Public.

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Members shall follow UK Government guidance for minimising the risk of Coronavirus transmission. Members and their guests shall not enter the site or participate in club activities if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities. |

Risk Assessment – Activities off the Water

Manual handling

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Others carrying boats and equipment.

Residual Risk: Medium

1. Avoid attempting to lift items that are heavier than you can handle.

2. Work with a partner to share loads.

3. Try to avoid torso twisting.

4. Instruction to be given to those new to the club on how to lift and carry boats safely.

Gym Equipment

Who might be harmed: Gym Users

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. The gym equipment shall only be used by members who have received appropriate training and are authorised to use it.

2. When not in use, equipment shall be stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Slips, trips. falls

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Parents, Public

Residual Risk: Medium

Actions:

1. Steps and access routes in boathouses, clubhouse and on riverbank (including public towpath) to be kept free of items that create trip hazards.

2. Suitable footwear to be worn at all times, including when portaging.

3. Report any damage to pontons.

4. Running and “games” are not permitted in the changing rooms.

Motor vehicles

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Other centre users

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Pedestrians to look out for moving vehicles.

2. All vehicles shall be driven at low speed (less than 10 mph).

3. Drivers to look out for pedestrians, particularly when reversing.

4. Cars must not be parked in the area between the boathouses.

Electricity

Who might be harmed: Club members and guests

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Light bulbs/tubes must only be changed when the power to the fitting has been turned off.

2. Power tools and their leads shall be inspected for damage before use on site.

3. Any extension leads and power tools used on site must be supplied from a Residual Current Device (RCD).

4. Modifications to electric power circuits must only be carried out by authorised persons.

Fire

Who might be harmed: Any centre users

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Smoking is not permitted in any buildings.

2. Barbecues must only be lit at a safe distance from buildings and if there is a low risk of grass/vegetation fires. Adequate means of extinguishing the barbecue shall be positioned close to the fire.

Falls from height

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Club guests

Residual Risk: Medium

Actions:

1. Do not lean over balcony railings.

2. Handling of boats stored on racks:

   1. Inspect step ladders and trestles for damage and stability before use – do not use if damaged and report any damage to the club Quartermaster.

   2. Do not use step ladders to lift boats from racks alone – at least one assistant should be present pass/receive the stored boat from someone on a step ladder.

   3. If using a step ladder:

      • Ensure it is fully-opened, stable and has all four feet in contact with the ground.
      • Do not stand on the top three steps (including any step forming the very top of the stepladder) unless the ladder has a suitable handhold.
      • Avoid over-reaching.

3. Access to boat store loft:

   1. Inspect ladder to be used, to ensure it is in good condition before ascending it use – do not use if damaged and report any damage to the club Quartermaster.

   2. At least one other person must be in the store whenever the loft is accessed.

   3. Move around the loft cautiously, aware of the risk of falling through the ceiling/floor opening. Do not lean over the opening when passing items through it.

Dogs

Who might be harmed: Paddlers, Other centre users, Public

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Members with dogs should ensure their dog is under control at all times.

2. Try not to scare any dogs owned by other centre users or the general public.

Flooding at the Rowing Centre site

Who might be harmed: Club members and guests

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. If the access tunnel beneath the railway line is flooded, consider entering the site via a route that is not flooded.

2. Do not enter fast flowing water.

3. Do not enter the water unless absolutely necessary and if necessary:

   • Wear a correctly fitted buoyancy aid.
   • Walk carefully, being aware that tripping hazards may be obscured by muddy water. Consider having a stick/pole for support and/or for feeling for submerged obstacles.
   • Only do so when the person entering the water can be seen by others.

4. After the flooding has subsided, all contaminated surfaces within buildings shall be cleaned. | Low

Cleaning Chemicals

Who might be harmed: Club members, Other centre users

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Chemicals shall only be used when necessary to reduce the spread of infectious diseases or for biosecurity.

2. Use chemicals in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations on the label.

3. Consider use of protective gloves (e.g. vinyl or rubber) and eye protection.

4. Point spray bottles downwind before pressing the trigger.

COVID-19 Coronavirus

Who might be harmed: Club members and other centre users, Public

Residual Risk: Low

Actions:

1. Members shall follow UK Government guidance for minimising the risk of Coronavirus transmission. Members and their guests shall not enter the site or participate in club activities if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities.