Risk Assessment – Molesey Head Races

Molesey Veteran Head

1. Risk assessment

General Water Safety Assessment

It is a condition of entry that this document is read by all Clubs entering crews into this event and it is to be the responsibility of each Club’s Captain (or such other authorised officer of the Club) to review the information in this document alongside the guidance contained in the British Rowing Water Safety Code in determining whether the crews which they have entered are adequately prepared, trained and equipped to take part in this event

It is further required that competing Club’s representatives and all coxes attend the pre race briefing in the MBC clubhouse

Should there be any matters that require further information, the Molesey Veteran Head organising committee will take all reasonable steps to provide this information.

At all times the safety of Competitors and any other parties involved or associated with this event will be paramount and will over-ride any other factors in the making of decisions by the organising committee

Patrick Sinnott – Molesey Veteran Head Safety Advisor

All boat movements on the water are covered by the British Rowing Water Safety Code.

The Code applies to all participants, who are responsible for self-policing the code.

Coaches, marshals, umpires and all regatta officials should apply the code.

All involved in the Regatta have a duty of care to other river users.

Failure to comply with any part of that code in relation to equipment or behavior will lead to the crew or participants not being able to go afloat and/or race.

Two safety launches patrol the course and there are marshalling launches at the start and elsewhere. There are umpires site along the bank on the Surrey side of the course. First Aid attendants are also based at Molesey Boat Club.

All marshals, launches, safety launches, umpires, start and finish areas are in radio contact with race control with mobile phones as back up should the radio system fail or malfunction

The attached course map will provide further information including

· Course layout

· Start and finish locations

· Marshall and Umpire positions

· Access locations for emergency services if required

· Locations of notable hazards along this reach of the river

· Areas which crews may not enter unless directed by an event marshal or umpire

· Boating areas

· Location of washing, changing and Welfare facilities

Hazard	Persons who may be affected and Potential outcome	Risks	Control measures to reduce risks	Overall risk
Landing stages and the adjacent river areas before and after the race
Trip hazard due to items being left on the landing stages Danger, especially if there is strong stream, of crews being drawn towards Molesey Weir	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Moderate	Raft marshals have been appointed and have been instructed to manage use of the landing stage areas so as to minimize the time crew equipment is left on staging. There will be marshals at 2 positions on the entry to the Molesey Lock cut (this is the section of the river on which Molesey Boat Club is sited) to ensure that the flow of boats into this area and the rate at which they are cleared from the river is such that we do not have an excess numbers of boats in the area of the Molesey Weir which could place crews at risk of being drawn over the weir sluices The course map contains directions regarding safety in the area of the weir adjacent to the Lock and also details of the prohibition from the use of the river channel to the North/Middlesex side of Tagg’s Island	Low
Prior to race start
Collision with other boats on way to start or in marshalling areas	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Moderate	Reliance on competency of crews & coaches, and compliance with WSC and the navigation rules applicable to the Thames. Circulation patterns advised to crews prior to the event, non-compliance may lead to race penalties being applied. The course map will show the marshalling areas for each group of competitors showing crew number which will be repeated on bankside markers	Low
Failure of equipment, for example heel restraints or bow balls	Injury to rowers	Low	Limited inspection of boats prior to start of the event Reminder to Clubs of their duty to provide safe and suitable equipment under British Rowing Water Safety Code	Low

During the race
Incidents involving other racing crews	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Low	All racing is carried out under British Rowing Rules of Racing and in compliance with the Water Safety Code (WSC). Marshals or Umpires along the course will endeavor to advise boats to move or to change course as necessary if there is a safety issue. No warm up on the course in the area adjacent to the start or start turning areas. All competitors are advised and must meet the circulation pattern. Two safety boats available.	Low
Capsize or sinking, rowers falling from boats in other incidents such as catching crab etc	Potential drowning, injury or hypothermia following immersion	Medium	Umpires & marshals along the course can summon safety boats. Umpires have instructions to control an incident until safety boat(s) arrives See also WSC & Coach education programme. It is to be expected that Clubs will have trained their crews for such eventualities and will have considered the increased hazards associated with immersion in cold water in determining the selection of crews entered for this type of event Two safety boats available.	Low
Incidents involving other vessels	Injury to persons or damage to vessels and equipment	Low	Environment Agency informed of the event Limited extent of other river traffic anticipated at this time of year 2 no sailing clubs and 1 no canoe club along this reach and they will have full details sent to them before the event to ensure adequate co-operation and co-ordination	Low

Weather risks
Strong stream	Crews unable to control boats	Moderate	Risk will be known of in advance and the Race Committee and the Safety Adviser will assess the situation in advance. The Safety Adviser will take account of advice from the EA, and in particular whether red or yellow boards are shown. Based on the river conditions there may be a decision to treat certain categories of competitor differently with the decision being taken having regard to the levels of competence of crew and cox (where applicable) expected of each category of competitor The Race Committee may postpone or cancel racing or categories of races if the conditions are deemed unsafe. Racing may be curtailed if red or yellow boards are shown.	low
Adverse weather, combinations of temperature, wind and water	All participants, especially juniors, coxes and lightweights	Impossible to determine at time of writing	The race committee will review the weather conditions to determine if it is possible to run the race safely Every effort will be made to ensure crews have correct amount of time to remove outer clothing in time for the movement from marshalling locations to race start Competing clubs must ensure their crews are correctly dressed for the race conditions and should review the preparedness of younger competitors in line with their Child Protection duties as younger competitors may not have the necessary experience of suitable clothing for events of this type. See also MVH Child Protection Policy.	Moderate
Thunderstorm or other storm	Damage to equipment and structures. Fatal risk from lightning	Low	Race Committee to apply 30 second / 10 minute rule. When gap between visible lightning and thunder is 30 seconds or less, racing to be stopped, water to be cleared. All tents are to be evacuated, and all spectators to be advised to get into vehicles, to close doors and windows. Action should be taken to minimise the risk of lightning strikes (eg on oars held vertically) All clear when lightning gap / thunder exceeds 30 seconds for 10 minutes.	Low
High Winds	Severe injury, death or damage to equipment	Low	The Race Committee may postpone or cancel racing or categories of races if the conditions are deemed unsafe.	Low

Major incident
Bomb, terrorist or other war action	Deaths, injuries and severe damage	Low	Police notified and all further instructions will be issued from Surrey Police	Low
Fire	Deaths, injuries and severe damage	Very Low	Evacuate areas in Molesey Boat Club and wait instructions from Fire Service.Fire Service to control incidents once on site.	Low
Vehicle and cycle movements
Fall hazard while unloading boats	Injury to rowers and/or damage to boats	Low	Reliance on competency of crews. The British Rowing provides guidelines on trailers and towing. SJA attendants present at Molesey Boat Club.	Low/ Moderate
Collision hazard due to trailers, boats and cars and cycles	Injury to rowers, spectators and/or damage to boats and vehicles	Moderate	Vehicles only allowed to access car and designated trailer parking areas and not the course. All trailer and car movements under the direction of MVH personnel.	Low
Illness and other medical conditions
Illness and other medical conditions of rowers and spectators	Illness or other medical conditions (eg asthma, epilepsy) may require immediate assistance	Moderate	Provide St John’s Ambulance in location shown on the course map. Ensure that there are landing points for casualties marked on course map	Low
Operational hazards for Organising Committee and Volunteers
Safe operation of launches Risks apply to all users	Hypothermia	Low	All launch users will be advised of issue in the pre event briefings	Low
	Drowning if launch sinks or capsizes or occupants fall out	Low	Provision of lifejackets from the stocks held at Molesey Boat Club which will all be checked before issue	Low
	Collision with other vessels	Low	Selection of experienced and capable launch drivers	Low
	Equipment failure leading to other unspecified hazards	Low	Launches to be checked for safe condition before allocation to users Crews have radios and can summon assistance if needed	Low