Staines Boat Club

28 Riverside Drive Chertsey Lane Staines TW18 3JN Tel: 01784 453595

Water Safety Plan

to print this plan please download in Word format here

Introduction

Almost any sport, and certainly any water sport, involves some risk. In order to ensure that all members of Staines Boat Club (SBC) and affiliated rowers British Airways (BA) and Sir William Perkins School (SWPS) can enjoy rowing in safety, and to comply with the Amateur Rowing Association’s (ARA’s) Water Safety Code, it is necessary for the club to have a Water Safety Plan.

All members and visitors to SBC shall comply with the requirements of the Water Safety Plan and other associated documents which may be in force at the time (as notified by the SBC committee).

Most of the rules and advice contained in this document are based on simple common sense, so with the help of SBC members it should largely enforce itself. If you see any incident which you feel may lead to an accident or injuries, then SAY SOMETHING, do not assume someone else will deal with it. Any serious incidents or breaches of the plan should be reported to a committee member.

Associated Documents

This document supplements the rules and advice given in the two documents produced by the ARA and the Environment Agency (EA).

1. ARA Water Safety Code

http://www.oara-rowing.org/render.aspx?siteID=1&navIDs=1,249

2. A User’s Guide to the River Thames

http://www.visitthames.co.uk/Publications/usersguide.html

There are up to date copies of both documents in the Safety Binder which is located in the store cupboard in the boat house. They are both accessible through the relevant organisation’s web sites (links above) and you are advised to familiarise yourselves with them.

The following sections expand the generic rules of the ARA water safety code to take on board the local conditions and practices covering the Staines Reach.

Accident and Incident log:

There is an ARA approved accident log attached to the notice board by the changing rooms. If you are involved in an accident (especially if it involves damage or injury) please report it to a committee member and record it in the log.

First Aid:

The first aid box is located on a hook just inside the boat house door (there is also a limited number of supplies in the store cupboard). It is for EMERGENCY USE ONLY. Blisters are an occupational risk for rowers and oarsmen/scullers should bring their own supplies for running repairs to hands etc. The first aid kit will be regularly checked, however if you do use some of the contents please let a committee member know so that it can be restocked as soon as possible.

Telephone Numbers:

Emergency telephone numbers are displayed next to the phone.

Call 999 in case of an emergency and be prepared to describe the incident and its location.

Useful numbers for the club are:

Bell Weir Lock (upstream): 01784 432333

Penton Hook Lock (downstream): 01784 452657

Local Navigation Office: 0118 953 5577

Insurance and ARA membership:

All boats used by members of the club and visitors must carry at least 3^rd Party insurance. SBC crew boats (2-/x, 4+/-/x and 8+) are all covered by the club’s 3^rd Party Insurance. Club sculls are only insured where they have a sticker on the splashboard confirming that it is insured by SBC. If you borrow a private boat ensure that you are covered with the owner. It is yours, not the clubs, responsibility to ensure that you are adequately covered.

At the time of this document ARA membership includes personal accident insurance cover for members while engaged “in any activity of the insured organisation anywhere in the world including direct travel to and from such activity within Great Britain, Northern Island, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man”. It is strongly recommended that club members join the ARA whether they intend to race or not to take advantage of this scheme. SBC’s insurance does not cover members for personal injury.

Logging in/Logging out :

When taking to the water ALL crews need to log in and out using the white board on the boat house doors. Crew members, boat and time out and in should be recorded.

Rowing after Dusk:

Rowing after dusk is only permitted if the boat is carrying two white lights which are visible a full 360^o at all times.

Crews are also recommended to wear light coloured or reflective clothing.

Only experienced steersmen or coxes should row the Staines reach after dark. Remember, compared to most other vessels you are small, close to the water and very hard to see.

Equipment:

Your safety is significantly affected by the condition of the equipment you choose to row or scull in. You must make sure that the boat you are going to use is in a safe condition before you go down to the landing stage. Boats that have a missing or defective bow ball, heel restraints or buoyancy compartments shall not be used. Any maintenance problem or damage to a club boat should be reported to the Maintenance Officer and/or a committee member as soon as possible.

Environmental Conditions:

Visibility and river conditions can vary rapidly and you must be sure that you are happy with the conditions prior to going on to the water. The wind can quickly cause chop on the Staines reach which can swamp a rowing boat.

The Staines reach of river is controlled by weirs at both ends and the stream conditions can vary rapidly with the opening and closing of sluice gates. Both locks will display coloured boards indicating the stream conditions. A YELLOW BOARD with STREAM INCREASING means that the flow will be rising and no small boats (singles or doubles/pairs) shall take to the river. A RED BOARD indicates that the stream is at a potentially hazardous level and no one should go on to the river without a safety assessment being made by 2 committee members. Should the committee members concur that the river is safe to row then only large boats (4/8+) with experienced coxswains shall row.

If in doubt do not risk it.

Local Navigation Rules:

All members of SBC, SWPS, BA and their guests must abide by the local navigation rules at all times.

All crews/scullers shall keep to the right of the river (bowside blades near to the bank).
Overtaking can only be done on the left (slower crews near to the bank).
Crews/scullers going downstream have right of way at all times.
Crews/scullers should pass through the Railway Bridge through the centre arch except for when approaching the landing stage.
Crews/scullers should pass through the Staines Town Bridge going upstream via the town centre arch (RHS while facing upstream) and via the central arch while going downstream.
No crews/scullers are permitted to pass downstream of Silvery Sands unless they are to pass through Penton Hook Lock to reach the Burway reach. This may not be done under any circumstances if a Yellow or Red board is in force.
No crews/scullers may turn on the river except in the turning zones indicated below (copies posted on the notice board by the changing rooms)

Rules of the Landing Stage

While using the landing stage at SBC a certain amount of common sense is required. The landing stage is a first come first served situation. However if two boats need the same space on the landing stage at the same time the crew in the water has priority. If is safer for you to stand on the bank and wait for the other crew to come in than to have the other crew drifting while waiting for you to put your boat in the water.

In busy periods do not adjust at the landing stage (do so prior to getting there or out in the water) and do not leave a boat on station at the landing stage while you swop a crew member or someone goes to the toilet etc. Take the boat out of the water and let others use the stage.

Capsize or Sinking:

In the event of a capsize or sinking STAY WITH THE BOAT, it will continue to float and will make it easier for a rescuer to spot you. If the stream is taking you towards an obstruction, such as a bridge pier, try and keep the boat between you and the obstruction so it can provide you with a degree of protection.

Sculler’s, Coxswain’s Coach and Crew Responsibilities:

Junior members and novices are required to either prove they are able to meet the minimum Water Safety Code requirements (to swim at least 50m in light clothing, competence underwater, in treading water and being able to swim on front and back is considered minimum requirements) or need to wear a life jacket while they are on the water until they are able to do so. Any SBC member who is in any doubt of their fitness to participate in rowing or sculling should check with their GP before taking part in any strenuous activity. When taking new novices (both adult and junior) on to the water coaches should ask all crew members if they are confident without a life jacket. In the event that a participant requires a life jacket a suitable example should be provided.

All coxswains shall wear a lifejacket while on the water. There is no exception to this requirement, no lifejacket means no coxing. The club provides a number of manually inflatable lifejackets for the use of coxswains. They must be correctly and securely fastened at all times.

Coxswains should not wear Wellington boots in the boat while on the Staines reach or anywhere else and should not stand up in the boat while on the river.

Prior to going on to the water each crew should nominate one member to be in overall charge of the boat from the time it leaves the boathouse until it returns. Normally this will be the coxswain or steersman. However if either is inexperienced it may be more appropriate to have another more experienced crew member take charge. The nominated person has full responsibility for the safety of the crew and boat and should ensure that appropriate checks of the equipment are made and appropriate behaviour adhered to.

Coach’s Launch

Drivers of the launch must be aware of the wash that is created. This is especially relevant when the launch is following a crew boat at speed. Even with the design of the club’s launch which minimises wash there is the potential to swamp small boats and make it uncomfortable to row in larger boats. When you approach a crew boat or scull please slow down in good time so that your wash is minimised.

When coaches take out the launch the following equipment needs to go out with the coach;

a) A sound signalling device (capable of attracting attention over a distance of 200 metres).

b) Simple handholds fixed to the side of the launch to provide assistance to any person being rescued and provide self help should the driver fall overboard.

c) A sharp knife with carrying sheath

d) A paddle

e) An anchor and line appropriate to local conditions

f) Engine cut-out lanyard device (kill-cord)

g) A proprietary "throw line" or a "grab line" (min 15 metres) with a large knot tied in one end to assist throwing.

h) Life rings and approved life jackets or buoyancy aids.

i) Thermal blankets.

j)A baler for inflatable style launches, a suitable inflation pump and spare inflation valve

Common Sense:

Scullers are advised not to go out alone, especially after dark. If you choose to do so then make sure someone knows you are out and when you are expected to return.