Weybridge Silver Sculls

Saturday, 20th October 2018

Risk Assessment


This is the version of the page for October 2018. It will be reviewed and may be updated before the next event.

References: Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing

Risk Level Estimator

 Severity of Outcome
Probability of OccurrenceSlightly harmfulHarmfulExtremely harmful
Highly UnlikelyTrivial RiskTolerable RiskModerate Risk
UnlikelyTolerable RiskModerate RiskSubstantial Risk
LikelyModerate RiskSubstantial RiskIntolerable Risk

Risk Based Control Plan

Risk LevelAction and Timescale
1. TrivialNo action required.
2. Tolerable No additional controls are required. Consideration may be given to a more effective solution or improvement.
3. Moderate Efforts should be made to reduce the risk. Risk reduction measures should be implemented within a defined time period. Where the moderate risk is associated with harmful/serious consequences further assessment will be made in order to reduce Risk Level to ‘Tolerable’.
4. Substantial The activity should not be started until the risk has been reduced. Considerable resources may have to be allocated to reduce the risk. Where the risk involves activity already in progress, urgent action should be taken.
5. Intolerable Activity should not be started or continued until the risk has been reduced. If it is not possible to reduce risk even with unlimited resources, activity has to remain prohibited.

Risk Assessment

RiskProbability of Accidents
HU/U/L
Severity
SH/H/EH
Risk LevelPlanned Action to Control Risk
Fast river conditionsLikelyHarmfulSubstantial The safety Adviser will take advice on the river conditions from EA on Wednesday before the race. He will provide this advice to a sub-committee comprising Chairman, Chief Umpire, Chief Marshal and himself on that same day. If Red warning boards are predicted, the race will be cancelled. A similar assessment will be carried out before the start of each Division.
Steer into Tumbling Bay weirUnlikelyExtremely HarmfulSubstantial Safety Boat positioned immediately before the weir to warn crews. Buoys placed immediately downstream of the weir to direct crews away from the Mddx bank.
Collision with moored craft at Bridge MarineUnlikelyHarmfulModerate Buoys will be placed immediately downstream of the moorings to direct crews away from the Middlesex bank.
Collision with craft exiting Shepperton marinaUnlikelyHarmfulModerate Race Monitor stationed at exit from Marina to warn traffic coming out.
Damage and injury resulting from collision between competitors.LikelyHarmfulModerate During the race, competitors are spaced apart at the Start. Returning competitors are to keep to the Surrey side of the river. Racing competitors are at all times within sight of a race monitor, with radio contact to a rescue launch. Waterborne marshals are positioned in the Start marshalling area and at the Finish to keep the competitors apart. There are also rescue launches at the Start, at Walton Bridge and at the Finish.
Damage and injury resulting from collision with other river traffic.UnlikelyHarmfulModerate There are warning boards at all access points onto the course. Marker buoys separate the racing side of the river from the navigation channel. The lockkeepers at either end of the course are given information leaflets to hand to boat users. Local river club users will be notified of the race. Race monitors and marshals are equipped with loudhailers to warn other river users if necessary.
Capsize during raceLikelySlightly HarmfulModerate Racing competitors are at all times within sight of a race monitor, with radio contact to a rescue launch. It is the responsibility of all competitors to ensure that their boats have adequate buoyancy and are properly fitted with heel restraints so that they can release their feet in an emergency. Umpires will make spot checks as the competitors are boating.
Sudden bad weather causing unrowable and/or dangerous conditionsUnlikelyHarmfulModerate The Race Committee may suspend or cancel racing if they judge that conditions are dangerous.
Injury or illness to a competitor or official on the landUnlikelyHarmfulModerate First Aid facilities are available at Walton Rowing Club, Cowey Sale (qualified Ambulance unit) and Elmbridge Canoe Club.
Man overboard from boats used for course preparation and marshallingUnlikelySlightly HarmfulTolerable All personnel afloat will be provided with personal buoyancy aids and instructed in their use.
Capsize whilst returning via ‘Old’ River UnlikelySlightly HarmfulModerate Returning crews will be visible at all times to at least one of two Marshalls in radio contact with a dedicated Safety boat.

The Race Committee and Safety Adviser will hold a Risk Assessment meeting three days preceding the Race at Weybridge Rowing Club. Measures will be agreed to reduce any risk(s) thereby identified to an acceptable level.

Last modified: 1st October 2018