References: Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing
Risk Level Estimator
| Severity of Outcome | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Probability of Occurrence | Slightly harmful | Harmful | Extremely harmful |
| Highly Unlikely | Trivial Risk | Tolerable Risk | Moderate Risk |
| Unlikely | Tolerable Risk | Moderate Risk | Substantial Risk |
| Likely | Moderate Risk | Substantial Risk | Intolerable Risk |
Risk Based Control Plan
| Risk Level | Action and Timescale |
|---|---|
| 1. Trivial | No 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
| Risk | Probability of Accidents HU/U/L | Severity SH/H/EH | Risk Level | Planned Action to Control Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast river conditions | Likely | Harmful | Substantial | 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 weir | Unlikely | Extremely Harmful | Substantial | 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 Marine | Unlikely | Harmful | Moderate | Buoys will be placed immediately downstream of the moorings to direct crews away from the Middlesex bank. |
| Collision with craft exiting Shepperton marina | Unlikely | Harmful | Moderate | Race Monitor stationed at exit from Marina to warn traffic coming out. |
| Damage and injury resulting from collision between competitors. | Likely | Harmful | Moderate | 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. | Unlikely | Harmful | Moderate | 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 race | Likely | Slightly Harmful | Moderate | 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 conditions | Unlikely | Harmful | Moderate | 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 land | Unlikely | Harmful | Moderate | 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 marshalling | Unlikely | Slightly Harmful | Tolerable | All personnel afloat will be provided with personal buoyancy aids and instructed in their use. |
| Capsize whilst returning via ‘Old’ River | Unlikely | Slightly Harmful | Moderate | 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.