Wallagoot Lake Boat Club Risk Assessment Table
P.O.Box 239 Bega NSW 2550
wallagoot @yahoo.com.au
Sailing Season 2017-18, Risk Assessment
Prepared by T. Hastings 20/9/2015
Revised 27/10/2017
Introduction
This Risk Assessment is prepared to meet the requirements of an Aquatic Licence application, and for the benefit of the Wallagoot Lake Boat Club and its members.
Finnis, Lander and Rogers (2004) Yachting Victoria, Risk Management, A Practical Resource for Clubs, Yachting Victoria, has been used a guide and plagiarised by this document.
Duty of Care
Club and race officials owe a duty of care to participants in sailing races and activities where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm or injury to participants as a result of their actions. In exercising this duty of care, the law requires officials to take reasonable steps to reduce the likelihood of injury to participants as a result of those risks which are foreseeable.
Risk Management
The process of risk management requires:
· Identifying risks involved in conducting sailing competitions and activities,
· adopting strategies and taking action to reduce these risks wherever possible,
· communicate and consult with people involved,
monitor and review.
Risk Assessment
The following tables have been used to assess the likelihood for a potential risk to occur over an annual evaluation cycle.
Table 1: Likelihood Scale
Rating LIKELIHOOD / The potential for problems to occur in a yearA ALMOST CERTAIN: / Will probably occur, could occur several times per year
B LIKELY: / High probability, likely to arise once per year
C POSSIBLE: / Reasonable likelihood that it may arise over a five-year period
D UNLIKELY: / Plausible, could occur over a five to ten year period
E RARE: / Very unlikely but not impossible, unlikely over a ten year period
The following table has been used to assess the severity that a risk may have to the degree of loss or damage which may result from its’ occurrence.
Table 2: Severity Scale
Rating POTENTIAL IMPACT / In terms of the objectives of the organizationA CATASTROPHIC: / Most objectives may not be achieved, or several severely affected
B MAJOR: / Most objectives threatened, or one severely affected
C MODERATE: / Some objectives affected, considerable effort to rectify
D MINOR: / Easily remedied, with some effort the objectives can be achieved
E NEGLIGIBLE: / Very small impact, rectified by normal processes
The following table has been used to assess the risk priority scale, and determine the nature of the risk and the action required.
Table 3: Risk Priority Scale
Key:
(1) Extreme risks that are likely to arise and have potentially serious consequences requiring urgent attention
(2) Major risks that are likely to arise and have potentially serious consequences requiring urgent attention or investigation
(3) Medium risks that are likely to arise or have serious consequences requiring attention
(4) Minor risks and low consequences that maybe managed by routine procedures
(5) Use this to note a risk that does not apply to the WLBC
Implementation
Club Officials and people acting as “Officer of the Day” must read this document and be aware of the actions they are required to take.
Additional risks or amendments to this document are welcomed.
It is always the skipper and crews decision to race and that they have a responsibility for their and others safety.
The following tables assess risks for the Wallagoot lake Boat Club. Space is left blank for additional risks to be assessed during monitoring and review during the season.
Risk Assessment 1
Wallagoot Lake Boat Club Risk Assessment Table
P.O.Box 239 Bega NSW 2550
wallagoot @yahoo.com.au
Risk Assessment Table
Potential Risk / Likelihood / Severity / Risk Rating / Treatment / Resources / Responsible Person / Time-frame /On Water
Collision of boats during race resulting in personal injury / D / C / 3 / Clear pre-race instructions
Advise competitors of race rules / Racing Rules of Sailing / All sailors
Officer of the Day / At briefings
Fire/explosion on Rescue Craft resulting in personal injury to crew. / E / B / 3 / Apply 1st aid
Seek help from sailors
Abandon race / Fire extinguisher and 1st aid kit on board rescue boat / Officer of the Day / Annual equipment check
Hypothermia contracted by sailors and race officials. / E / C / 3 / Provide weather report, instructions on appropriate clothing / Space blanket in 1st aid kit / Officer of the Day / At briefings
Difficulty in attending to a medical emergency / injury occurring mid-race resulting in exacerbation of injury. / D / C / 3 / Other sailors to attend in emergencies / All sailors
Collision of boat with submerged object resulting in personal injury / D / C / 3 / Events to be held away from shoreline and shallow areas,
Sailors to be warned of hazards / Officer of the Day / At briefing
Unforseen severe weather changes (including squalls, electrical storms) resulting in sailors and officials being exposed during events. / B / E / 4 / Racing to be abandoned, boats advised to return to shore / Officer of the Day
Mechanical breakdowns / gear failure resulting in not being able to provide effective rescue capabilities. / D / E / 4 / Other vessels such as Trailer-sailor to act as rescue boat.
Consider abandoning races / Officer of the Day, all sailors
Sailors not rescued due to rescue boat not being available / A / A / 1 / Rescue boat to be launched prior to any organised sailing activity / RIB rescue boat and/or main rescue boat / Sailing coach and/or Officer of the Day / 9am on sailing training days
Sunstroke / sunburn / dehydration to sailors and /or officials. / A
D / E
C / 3 / Club to have sunscreen available, remind sailors or risk.
1st aid to be provided as required / Sunscreen provided at sign-in.
1st aid kit on Rescue Boat / Committee
Officer of the Day / Sign-in and post-race
Injury to officials, sailors or other water users from rescue and race official boat propellers / E / B / 3 / All boat operators to be licenced
Motor to be switched off when in proximity to people in water / Prop guard fitted
Warning sticker on rescue boat / Officer of the Day
Lack of safety / rescue equipment by race / event organisers / E / B / 3 / 1st aid kit to be checked annually.
Officer of the Day encouraged to familiarise themselves with kit / 1st aid kit on rescue boat
1st aid kit in Clubhouse / Committee
Officer of the Day / Annually and as required
Personal injury to swimmers where collision with competitor or official boats either on course or heading to course / E / B / 3 / Swimming in course area discouraged.
Skippers to take care at beach area / All sailors
Collisions with PWC’s and other craft resulting in personal injury. / E / B / 3 / PWC and powerboats discouraged from sailing course area. Sailors to be aware of all lake users / Large sign on clubhouse wall / All sailors
Failure to conduct pre and post event boat counts resulting in missing personnel. / E / B / 3 / All sailors to sign on and sign off.
All sailors to be look for boats in distress / Sign on / off sheets / Officer of the Day
All sailors / Before, during and after racing
Personal injury to sailors competing / participating in boats of poor repair or insufficient capability / E / B / 3 / Club to maintain club boats to sufficient standard. Experienced skippers to inspect and offer advice as required to others when rigging up / Designated club officials, all sailors / Before racing each week
Personal injury to selves or others as a result in inexperienced sailors participating beyond their capacity / D / B / 2 / All skippers advised of risks involved in sailing
Mentoring of inexperienced sailors by others
Annual sailing school / All sailors
Water skiers colliding with sailing boats, or each other / E / B / 3 / Water skiers advised to stay outside of racing area, and to lap in an anti-clockwise direction / Sign on clubhouse wall / Power boat operators
Before and After Sailing
Ramp Condition - becoming slippery - risk of personal injury. / C / D / 3 / Ramp users to exercise caution / Non-slip panels fitted to ramp / All ramp users
Equipment left lying around posing risk of injury to persons using area / B / E / 4 / All equipment to be made as safe as possible, all sailors to be conscious of avoiding this risk / All sailors / Weekly
Placing heavy equipment and boats high up in storage racks resulting injury or damage during retrieval / D / B / 2 / Volunteers to be called for when storing boats
All sailors to be prepared to help / All sailors
Personal injury and property damage arising from rigging accidents such as falling masts, wire under tension / D / B / 2 / Each sailor to be aware of risks involved / All sailors
Environment
Non-compliance with OH&S regulations resulting in penalties and exposure to personal injury claims / E / B / 3 / Club Officials to monitor compliance
An annual audit safety audit to be conducted / Club officials
Clubhouse and/or facilities in disrepair or unsafe condition leading to personal injury / property damage / E / B / 3 / Monitoring of infrastructure with repairs to be undertaken as required
Consider restricting numbers of people on balcony, and in kitchen / All sailors
Illness caused by ingestion of club water supply / E / B / 3 / Notice to be provided to sailors that water has not been tested for human consumption. Bottled water to be available / Club officials
Trips or falls at clubhouse or boat store entry / D / C / 3 / Height of potential fall to be minimised by landscaping
Trip objects to be prominently coloured / Club officials
Personnel
Harassment of participants / members from officials or other participants / members. / C / C / 2 / Committee to resolve any disputes. If that fails, then refer to a community justice centre for mediation / Committee
Poor tracking of fleet by officials during races resulting in missing boats, poor race management or incorrect results. / C / E / 4 / “Officer of the Day” crib sheets to provide directions for appropriate race management procedures
Sailing Secretary and /or Committee to resolve any disputes / Officer of the Day crib sheets / Secretary, Events Coordinator, Committee,
Officer of the Day
Failure to deploy rescue boats as required by emergency circumstances. / D / C / 3 / Officer of the Day to be ready to perform rescues at all times on their duty day
Experienced rescue boat operators to be ready to use Rescue Boat if required, regardless of who is assigned Officer of the Day / Rescue Boat / Officer of the Day
Experienced rescue boat operators
Abuse or harassment of officials, members and other participants due to dissatisfaction with procedures or results / B / E / 4 / “Officer of the Day” crib sheets to provide directions for appropriate race management procedures
Sailing Secretary and /or Committee to resolve any disputes / Officer of the Day crib sheets / Committee, Officer of the Day
Appointment of inexperienced Officer of the Day resulting in poor decision-making / B / E / 4 / Inexperienced Officer to be accompanied by experienced person where possible
Tuition, guidance and support to be offered
“Officer of the Day” crib sheets to be provided / Officer of the Day crib sheets / Experienced persons
Insufficient support for Committee Official resulting in too many responsibilities and subsequent possible neglect of duties. / B / E / 4 / Monthly meetings to provide opportunity to delegate tasks, Committee to be prepared to provide support for each other as required / All Committee members
Insufficiently trained or skilled persons making poor decisions / A / E / 3 / Committee to resolve any disputes, provide support where possible / All Committee members
Poor promotion of emergency procedures and contact numbers to club members. / B / D / 3 / Emergency procedures and numbers to be displayed, such as near sign-on table / Sign or laminated sheet / Secretary
Lack of appropriately trained or qualified first aid officer(s) present during conduct of club activities resulting in poor injury management / E / B / 3 / Encourage all persons restored as Officer of the Day to obtain current 1st Aid certificate.
Consider on-site training session if required / Officer of the Day
Lack of appropriate first aid equipment readily available to treat injuries or accidents as they occur / D / B / 2 / 1st aid kits to be accessible: in Rescue Boat, at rigging area, and in Clubhouse / 1st Aid kits / Committee / ASAP
Incident relating to poor supervision of minors; parents advised that they remain responsible for supervision during sailing events / B / D / 3 / Note on supervision to be displayed on club website, in promotional / induction material, verbally prior to any minors being left at club / Website
Sailing lesson materials / Committee
OOD
Sailing instructors
Miscellaneous
Poor induction of officials and communication of responsibilities and duties of key officials resulting in confusion and possible neglect of tasks. / A / E / 3 / Written and electronic records of all management documents to be kept by Club and passed on to new Officials.
Support by experienced Officials to be provided to new members.
Training of Officials in Yachting NSW courses of “Dinghy Instructor”, “Powerboat Handling” and “Club Race Officer” / Various archives / Previous and current Committee / At AGM and as required
Possibility of post-traumatic stress for volunteers involved in serious accidents / emergencies / E / B / 3 / If suspected, the person should be provided support and appropriate treatment / All Committee
Poor food management and handling procedures in catering and canteen areas of club may breach regulations / C / D / 3 / All reasonable care to be taken
Regatta coordinator to ensure appropriate instructions and equipment provided / All kitchen volunteers, regatta coordinator
Risk Assessment 1