Event Safety Management
IMPORTANT INFORMATION NOTE (13/11/14)
Overall canoeing has a good track record for event safety management; however there have been a number of serious accidents which has demonstrated that more could be done to improve this.
In order to support clubs and canoeing activity at all levels, British Canoeing has developed an Event Safety Workshop which highlights the ‘duty of care’ issues and offers simple and effective solutions to safety management issues.
We have also introduced a number of measures to standardise practices and with effect from January 2016 events (see event definitions below) must be authorised by the appropriate committee with the following actions undertaken:
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All clubs running events must appoint a Safety Officer and put in place procedures to ensure the management of event safety appropriate to the level of events that they run: by 30/09/15
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Discipline committees and Regional Development Teams (RDTs) must appoint two people to take responsibility for the role of Safety Officers and undertake training by 30/09/15
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For 2016 and beyond, all Regional and National events must be authorised by the Discipline committees or Regional Development Team appointed Safety officers.
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Event safety training is required for all nominated Safety Officers where the event is run under British Canoeing insurance.
Club Events
Club events can be categorised as either closed or open. A closed event would be one that is simply for club members only. In such instances responsibility for the authorisation of the event falls to the club committee and guided by the appointed club Safety Officer.
An open event would be one to which other clubs / independent paddlers may be invited and/or is publicly promoted. However, it remains a club event and not an event the club have been asked to run on behalf of a Discipline committee or RDT. In such instances the responsibility for the authorisation of the event still falls to the club committee and as guided by the appointed club Safety Officer.
Discipline Committee and Regional Development Team Events.
These events are organised and run by (or on behalf of) a Discipline Committee or RDT and include all domestic events that appear on the committee events calendar and/ or the committee receives a levy from. Examples of such would be:
Divisional slalom events
Hasler Canoe Marathon Races
Regional Tours
National Championships
Coaching Matters Events
In such instances the event must be authorised by the discipline committee or the RDT directly. Authorisation requires a full event risk assessment, Event Safety Management Plan and confirmation of status by the discipline committee or RDT in writing.
British Canoeing Event
These events are British Canoeing National or International events involving funding and resource commitment by British Canoeing directly. Such events might include a World Cup/Championship. Authorisation requires a full event risk assessment, Event Safety Management Plan and confirmation of status by the British Canoeing Senior Management Team.
What is the Event Safety Management Workshop?
The focus of the workshop is to raise awareness of safety management and duty of care issues as they effect clubs/groups, both in their normal everyday activities (closed activity) and also when they may engage in running events open to others.
The workshop provides guidance and support to mitigate risk using the concept of an ‘event span of control’ to bring simple well organised solutions that people can understand and apply during even the most complex process.
Where and when will the workshops be available?
Up till now the workshops have been available as part of the Club Forums. In 2015 they will be run independently, with 3 workshops in each region. In 2016 there will be one Event Safety workshop in each region. Your Canoeing Development Officer will also be able to advise you of the nearest one to you.
To attend any of the following events, please complete the Booking Form and return to Aimee Sallis.
Team North
North East: 19th March 2016. Adventure Sunderland, SR6 0PW. 10am-1pm
North West: 22nd October 2016. UCLAN Sports Arena, Preston, PR2 1SG. 10am - 1pm
Yorkshire: 26th April 2016. Leeds Sailing & Activity Centre, Leeds, LS19 7UR. 6pm - 9pm
Team Central
East Midlands: 24th September 2016. Midland Canoe Club, Derby, DE22 1DL. 10am - 1pm
West Midlands: 5th March 2016. Ackers Adventure, Birmingham, B11 2PY. 10am - 1pm
Eastern: 12th October 2016. Mepal Outdoor Centre, Ely, CB6 2AZ. 6pm - 9pm
Team South
London: 16th April 2016. Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre, E1W 3TD. 10am - 1pm
South East: 19th April 2016. Maidstone Canoe Club, ME16 0SN, 6pm - 9pm
Southern: 9th April 2016. RAF Watersports Centre, Danesfield, SL7 2EY. 10am - 1pm
South West Wessex: 9th November 2016, Kingston Maurward College, Dorset, DT2 8PY. 6pm - 9pm
South West Devon & Cornwall: 19th March 2016, Ashtorre Rock, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 4GT. 10am - 1pm
Cost and booking
For 2015 we will be providing one place per club / volunteer committee free with any other places at a cost of £10.